Antiviral therapy for treatment-naïve hepatitis B virus patients.

Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem worldwide,responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease. It is estimated that there are 350 million hepatitis B virus carriers globally. The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection varies greatly in different regions of the world. In the United States, approximately 1.5 million people are infected and 50,000 to 100,000 new cases are reported annually despite the availability of effective vaccines. This article reviews various antiviral therapies for treatment naïve hepatitis B virus patients.