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Stanford Health Care

Hepatitis B Treatment

Hepatitis B Treatment at Stanford

There is no cure for hepatitis B. However, when you come to Stanford, you have access to every available treatment, delivered by some of the world's leading experts. Each year, we care for over 1,000 patients with hepatitis B.

Care for hepatitis B at Stanford Health Care is:

  • Innovative: Our active participation in prestigious clinical trials is advancing the science of hepatitis B care. We are always evaluating new treatments, some of which are only available at Stanford.
  • Safe: We pride ourselves in delivering appropriate care. Non-invasive liver disease testing helps us determine your precise level of liver damage. We use this information to know when you should start treatment and which treatments will be of greatest benefit.
  • Personalized: Whether you have been fighting hepatitis B virus (HBV) for weeks or years, we never give up. Using a team approach that includes experts across all aspects of liver disease, we determine a personalized combination of therapies to address your unique condition.
  • Close to home: If you live anywhere in Northern California, you do not have to go far for treatment. Our network of 25 outreach clinics makes it possible for you to receive regular care from a Stanford Health Care hepatologist.

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by HBV. The treatment that is best for your condition depends on whether you have been exposed to HBV and how long you have had it.

  • Preventing hepatitis B: The hepatitis B vaccine protects you from infection if you are exposed to HBV. Living a healthy lifestyle, which includes avoiding drugs and alcohol, can also prevent hepatitis B. Learn more about liver disease prevention.
  • Lowering your risk after exposure: Within the first 12 hours of HBV exposure, you can lower your risk of getting hepatitis B with two shots:
    • Hepatitis B immune globulin: Human blood proteins (globulins) offer an immediate boost to help your immune system fight HBV
    • Hepatitis B vaccine: A series of three shots over a six-month period gives you a chance for immunity against hepatitis B
  • Acute hepatitis B: In the first six months following HBV exposure (acute hepatitis B), you may only need simple treatments, such as rest and medications, to help manage symptoms.
  • Chronic hepatitis B: If HBV is still in your blood after six months (chronic hepatitis), we deliver a range of treatments to slow the progression of liver damage and optimize liver functioning for as long as possible.