Although several factors are responsible for the development of chronic HBV-infection, one of the factors is a weak and transient CD8+ T-cell responses after HBV infection. In chronic hepatitis B, inflammation can lead to scarring which is the driving force to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Some immunological parameters, like a newly discovered subset of IL-17 producing T helper cells (Th17 cells), may influence the disease progression of HBV. In the cirrhotic patient, eventually there is an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leading to liver failure.