HBV
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Hepatitis B virus |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
HBV stands for Hepatitis B virus, an infectious disease abbreviation.
DNA virus spread through blood, sex and from mother to baby at birth, causing acute or chronic hepatitis. Chronic infection, which develops in most infants infected at birth but few infected adults, can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer; antivirals such as tenofovir and entecavir suppress it.
Example: Chronic HBV, HBeAg negative, HBV DNA 25,000 IU/mL with elevated ALT; start tenofovir.
Usage notes
The WHO estimates about 250 million people live with chronic hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine, first licensed in 1981, is often called the first vaccine against cancer. US guidance recommends vaccination for all adults aged 19–59 (since 2022) and screening every adult at least once (since 2023). Babies of infected mothers receive vaccine and immune globulin within 12 hours of birth.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- H1N1 – Influenza A virus subtype H1N1
- H5N1 – Influenza A virus subtype H5N1
- HAART – Highly active antiretroviral therapy
- HAP – Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- HAV – Hepatitis A virus
- HBsAg – Hepatitis B surface antigen
- HCV – Hepatitis C virus
- HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus
- hMPV – Human metapneumovirus
- HPV – Human papillomavirus
- HSV – Herpes simplex virus
- HZ – Herpes zoster
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.