Hepatitis B Virus

Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis revealed 13 risk factors for intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the most significant of which included biliary cysts and stones, cirrhosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The likelihood of hepatitis B virus exposure among methamphetamine users was four times higher in women compared with men, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals initiated patient dosing in a phase 2b study of different regimens for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B including combinations of JNJ-3989, JNJ-6379 and nucleos(t)ide analog therapy, according to a press release from study collaborator, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals.

Results from two independent cohorts revealed that patients who had negative test results for both hepatitis B DNA and hepatitis B RNA at the end of nucelos(t)ide analogue therapy were more likely to have continued response for 4 years or more.

One of the hot topics at this year’s ASCO Annual Meeting was broadening eligibility criteria to increase clinical trial access and enrollment.

Drug shortages continue to inundate our health care system. They have paralyzed pharmacies and affected hundreds of thousands of patients. Although drug shortages are not new, they have significantly increased since 2007. From 2006 to 2007, there was nearly a 50% spike in shortages, and the number of shortages has remained high annually, with the highest number — 267 — reported in 2011. The cause of drug shortages is multifactorial and many times unpredictable. Manufacturing and quality issues, delays in production, raw product availability, discontinuations by manufacturers, and natural disasters are noted to be the major reasons for shortages. Drug shortages present a serious public health challenge and a strain on the health care system from a resource management perspective. Also, they contribute to an increase in overall health care costs. The FDA, professional organizations (eg, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) and pharmaceutical companies have committed to manage and prevent shortages and are working to identify key strategies and solutions to minimize harm to patients.

The prevalence of exposure to hepatitis B among veterans was highest among those with traditional risk factors and independently related to military combat or being wounded in combat, according to study results.

Hepatitis B infection rates among adults with a history of injection drug use are more than four times higher than those of the general population, according to a recent study.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently gave an ‘A’ level recommendation to screening women for hepatitis B during their first prenatal visit, according to a report recently published in JAMA.

PHILADELPHIA — Early detection of liver-related complications and hepatic diseases in patients who are pregnant leads to reduced risks and improved outcomes for both mother and child, according to a presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting.