Management of severe acute hepatitis B

HBV infection is a major public health problem. Acute viral hepatitis B is successfully cleared in more than 95% of immunocompetent patients. HBV infection can cause severe acute hepatitis which can progress to acute liver failure. The purpose of this review is to discuss the immune response in acute hepatitis B and the possible role of HBV genotypes in development of severe acute HBV related hepatitis, define severe acute hepatitis B and to look at the role of the available antivirals in this clinical setting.