Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of dsDNA-RT viruses. Both acute and chronic hepatitis B can be caused by blood-borne HBV infections. The risk of developing chronic hepatitis B is directly related to the age of first infection, much higher for infants. Chronic hepatitis B may eventaully lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.