1. Kim WR, Ishitani MB, Dickson ER, et al.: Rising burden of hepatitis B in the United States: should the other virus be forgotten? [abstract]. Hepatology 2002, 36:222A.
2. Keeffe EB, Dieterich DT, Han SH, et al.: A treatment algorithm for the management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the United Sates. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2004, 2:87–106. A treatment algorithm for chronic hepatitis B infection is proposed by a panel of experts based on new developments in the understanding of the virology of HBV, progress with more sensitive molecular diagnostic testing, and availability of new antiviral agents.
3. Cooksley WGE, Piratvisuth T, Lee SD, et al.: Peginterferon alfa-2a (40 kDa): an advance in the treatment of hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B. J Viral Hepat 2003, 10:298–305. This study is the first to demonstrate that pegylated interferon, in this case, alfa-2a, is a more potent antiviral than conventional interferon. The study included 294 predominantly Asian HBeAg-positive patients.
4. Marcellin P, Lau GKK, Bonino F, et al.: A phase II, partially double-blinded study evaluating the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-20 (40KD) (Pegasys) alone or in combination with lamivudine vs lamivudine in 537 patients with HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B [abstract 1181]. Programs and abstracts from the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Boston, MA: October 24–28, 2003.
5. Hansen HLA, Senturk H, Zeuzem S, et al.: Peginterferon alfa-2b and lamivudine combination therapy compared with peginterferon alfa-2b for chronic HBEag positive chronic hepatitis B: a randomized controlled trial in 307 patients. Presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Boston, MA: October 24–28, 2003.