Hepatitis B Virus
AGA urges antiviral prophylaxis for patients at high risk for hepatitis B reactivation
In a new clinical practice guideline, the AGA provided evidence-based recommendations for either antiviral prophylaxis or continued surveillance to manage hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
People with HBV, HIV coinfection at risk for hepatitis D ‘superinfection’
Patients with HIV and hepatitis B coinfection are at an increased risk for hepatitis D, which is associated with an increased risk of liver-related complications and mortality, researchers found.
Early declines in serum hepatitis B RNA levels may ‘serve as independent predictors’ of HCC
Declines in serum hepatitis B virus RNA at the first and second year of treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues correlated with risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and may serve as independent predictors of cancer development.
To identify, manage HDV, ‘the simple approach is to just screen’ all patients with HBV
Over recent years, there has been increased interest and attention to hepatitis delta virus, as we are beginning to understand that this is a real problem that at the moment is under-addressed and under-identified.
‘Uncommon’ but not ‘unimportant’: Screen all patients with hepatitis B for HDV
Despite being the smallest virus capable of causing human disease, it is estimated that up to 80% of patients with hepatitis delta virus will progress to liver cirrhosis and more than 50% will die of liver disease within 10 years of diagnosis.
To initiate same-day hepatitis C testing and treatment, hepatitis B status must be known
The FDA’s recent authorization of a rapid, point-of-care test to diagnose current hepatitis C virus infection is a major victory, but it would be malpractice to initiate same-day HCV treatment if a patient’s hepatitis B virus status is unknown.
Top in ID: CDC updates recommendations for RSV, COVID-19, pneumococcal vaccines
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously voted to recommend respiratory syncytial virus vaccinations for all adults aged 75 years and older, as well as those aged 60 to 74 years at high risk for severe disease.
CDC: Learning ‘ABCs of viral hepatitis’ may help boost early testing, vaccination
During Hepatitis Awareness Month, the CDC and allied public health organizations launched educational campaigns to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, deflate stigma around the infection and encourage early testing and vaccination.
FDA rejects expanded use of Dynavax’s four-dose hepatitis B vaccine for hemodialysis
The FDA has declined to approve Dynavax’s supplemental biologics license application for the expanded use of its four-dose hepatitis B vaccine regimen in adult patients on hemodialysis, according to a manufacturer’s press release.
Vaccines do not increase risk for lupus, meta-analysis finds
Vaccinations in general do not increase the risk for systemic lupus erythematosus, but hepatitis B vaccines may have a “significant connection” with the disease, according to a meta-analysis published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.