Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...

Hepatitis

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Demographic Factors and Biliary Atresia: A Childhood Liver Disease Research Network Study.

Pediatrics·2026

Same author

Dietary Lauric Acid Suppresses Inflammation, Cholestasis, Hepatocyte Injury, and Senescence in 3,5-Diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-Dihydrocollidine-induced Inflammatory Cholangiopathy.

Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology·2026

Same author

Resolution of Biochemical and Histologic Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Adolescents with Severe Obesity after Metabolic Bariatric Surgery.

The Journal of pediatrics·2025

Same author

Nutritional Considerations for Children with Liver Disease.

Gastroenterology clinics of North America·2025

Same author

Prospective Multicenter Longitudinal Measurement of Liver Stiffness in School-Age Children With Cholestatic Liver Disease.

Gastro hep advances·2025

Same author

Plasma proteome correlations with liver stiffness in pediatric cholestasis implicate epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Hepatology communications·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

Published on: May 10, 2022

Hepatitis B therapy in children.

Amethyst C Kurbegov¹, Ronald J Sokol

¹Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, 2121 East La Salle, Ste 205, Colorado Springs, CO 80909, USA. kurbegov.amethyst@tchden.org

Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

|February 13, 2009

Summary

Current treatments for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in children offer limited efficacy, with response rates around 30%. Future therapies may include entecavir and tenofovir, but long-term outcomes remain uncertain.

More Related Videos

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Published on: September 25, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

Published on: May 10, 2022

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Published on: September 25, 2019

Area of Science:

Hepatology
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Virology

Background:

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health concern, leading to severe liver conditions like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Children are more susceptible to chronic HBV infection due to immunotolerance, and current treatment responses in this age group are suboptimal.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the efficacy and limitations of existing therapies for chronic HBV infection in children.
To discuss the potential of emerging treatments and the implications of 'watchful waiting' strategies.

Main Methods:

Review of approved therapies for pediatric chronic HBV: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), lamivudine, and adefovir.
Analysis of treatment outcomes, including hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion rates, drug resistance, and side effects.
Consideration of ongoing clinical trials for entecavir and tenofovir in pediatric populations.

Main Results:

IFN-alpha shows moderate efficacy (approx. 30% HBeAg seroconversion) but has significant side effects and benefits mainly in patients with elevated ALT levels.
Lamivudine offers better tolerability but lower HBsAg seroconversion rates (2-3%) and high drug resistance.
Adefovir demonstrated limited efficacy in adolescents (16% HBeAg seroconversion) with a good safety profile and low resistance.

Conclusions:

Current therapies for chronic HBV in children have limited effectiveness, with IFN-alpha, lamivudine, and adefovir showing variable results and side effects.
Emerging treatments like entecavir and tenofovir, along with combination therapies, represent future directions.
The long-term impact of pediatric HBV treatment on cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma rates is still unknown, making 'watchful waiting' a viable consideration.