Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term viral infection that affects millions of people worldwide. Patients usually require lifelong antiviral treatment to control the virus and prevent liver damage.
Some older antiviral medications, such as lamivudine, can lead to the development of viral resistance. This means the virus changes in a way that makes certain treatments less effective. Even though newer drugs like entecavir are stronger and more resistant to these changes, previous exposure to lamivudine may increase the risk of developing additional resistance mutations.
By analyzing viral genetic material from blood samples using advanced sequencing technology, this research will help improve understanding of antiviral resistance patterns in patients with chronic hepatitis B in Turkey and may support better treatment decisions in the future.