HIV, HCV and HBV: A Review of Parallels and Differences

• Published in: Infectious diseases and therapy Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 407 - 419
• Main Authors: Leoni, Maria C., Ustianowski, Andrew, Farooq, Hamzah, Arends, Joop E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cheshire Springer Healthcare 01.12.2018; Springer Nature B.V; Adis, Springer Healthcare
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Antigens; Antiviral agents; Antiviral drugs; Antiviral therapy; Chronic illnesses; Disease control; Elimination; Health risk assessment; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; HIV; HIV virus; Human immunodeficiency virus; Immune system; Infections; Infectious Diseases; Internal Medicine; Liver; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Public health; Review; Vaccination; Viruses; Antiviral therapy; HIV virus; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Vaccination; Elimination
• ISSN: 2193-8229; 2193-6382
• DOI: 10.1007/s40121-018-0210-5

Elimination of the three blood-borne viruses—human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV)—as public health issues may be plausible in the near future. Spectacular advances have been made with the introduction of highly effective antiviral agents into clinical practice, and prevention strategies are available for all three infections. Effective disease control, laid out by WHO global strategies, is currently feasible for all three viruses. However, for worldwide elimination of these viruses, effective vaccines are required that are currently only available for HBV. In this review differences and parallels among HIV, HCV and HBV will be discussed with a focus on virologic and therapeutic issues, and prospects for the future of HBV will be presented.