Hepatitis B is a major public health problem worldwide and associated with significant mortality. To prevent or delay the deleterious effects of
chronic infection by the hepatitis B virus, patients should be carefully followed, and
antiviral therapy indicated according to specific recommendations. Currently, available drugs inhibit viral replication and slow or stop the progression of
inflammation and
fibrosis of the liver. However, the drugs for oral use in the treatment of
hepatitis B, jointly referred to as
nucleoside/
nucleotide analogs, are indicated for prolonged use and have potential side effects. The reduction in bone mineral density was associated with the use of
tenofovir, already evaluated in patients infected with HIV because the
drug is also part of the therapeutic arsenal for this
viral infection. There are few studies on the effects of
tenofovir in patients with mono
hepatitis B. Therefore, this literature review proposes to examine how
hepatitis B acts in the body and the mechanisms by which antiretroviral drugs (especially
tenofovir) can affect bone metabolism.