A bibliometric analysis of immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis B: trends and hotspots prediction

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a major global public health issue, affecting hundreds of millions worldwide and serving as a primary cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, immunotherapies aimed at reconstituting or enhancing the host immune response to control or even clear HBV have emerged as one of the most promising strategies for achieving functional cure.

A systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases identified 3,029 relevant articles published between January 2005 and December 2025. Using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica as bibliometric tools, evaluation metrics were extracted or calculated to analyze and visualize the knowledge map. Publications were categorized by country, institution, author, journal, highly cited papers, and keywords. These variables were compared in terms of publication output and academic influence, including metrics such as citation counts, citation impact, H-index, and journal impact factor.

A total of 3,029 relevant publications were retrieved, originating from 116 countries or regions and 4188 research institutions. China and the United States led in both publication volume and impact; the most prolific institution was the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, followed by the University of London. Frontiers in Immunology was the most frequently cited journal; Janssen, Harry L A was the most prolific author, while Zoulim, Fabien had the highest H-index among all authors. Keyword clustering identified four primary categories: "functional cure", "hepatocellular carcinoma", "case report" and "advanced hepatocellular carcinoma". Keyword and citation trends indicated three major research hotspots: persistent viral reservoirs, profound immune system depletion, and progression-driven mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma.

This bibliometric analysis indicates that research on hepatitis B immunotherapy has experienced rapid development over the past two decades and is projected to grow rapidly toward the goal of "functional cure" in the coming years. Literature trends suggest that combination therapy strategies involving drugs with different mechanisms of action have been increasingly investigated for achieving functional cure for hepatitis B. Furthermore, comparative analysis of research trends across various immunomodulatory treatment regimens will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of investigational therapeutic pathways in the near future.