Chronic Hepatitis News

Consultations, testing and treatment of hepatitis B and C virus fell significantly during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many centers seeing declines of more than 75% in all categories, according to a presentation.

According to a presenter at The Liver Meeting Digital Experience, diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis B virus remains low; therefore, significant increases in treatment are needed to decrease disease burden.

Compared to current practices of annual screening for hepatitis C virus in men who have sex with men, working toward reducing their risk and screening every 6 months could prove cost effective, according to a presentation.

Higher end-of-treatment hepatitis B e-antigen level correlated with nucleos(t)ide clinical relapse but did not correlate with relapse severity regardless of HBsAg level among patients with chronic hepatitis B virus, according to research.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously, 15-0, on Wednesday to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for all adults aged 19 to 59 years.

LAS VEGAS – In this video exclusive, Nancy S. Reau, MD, FAASLD, AGAF, discussed the Liver Health Annual Trends Report, which was launched during a panel discussion hosted by Salix Pharmaceuticals at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting.

LAS VEGAS — Fecal microbiota transplant capsules may improve cognition in patients with hepatic encephalopathy; however, results may vary by donor and recipient factors, according to a presentation at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting. “FMT is likely safe with rigorous screening protocol, though some patient subgroups with very advanced cirrhosis and decompensated disease potentially warrant exclusion of this treatment,” Patricia P. Bloom, MD, transplant hepatologist from the University of Michigan, said during the presentation. “It is possible reversing rifaximin (Xifaxan, Salix Pharmaceuticals) resistance is another mechanism by which FMT is effective in this condition.”

LAS VEGAS – In this video exclusive, Donna Cryer, JD, founder, president and CEO Global Liver Institute, spoke on the launch of the Liver Health Annual Trends Report and its possible impact for patients with chronic liver disease.

WHO released the first-ever global guidance for countries seeking validated hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus elimination.

The CDC announced achievement in controlling the hepatitis B virus and detailed the next steps for continued progress among underperforming countries’ immunization programs impacted by COVID-19 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.