HBF is pleased to connect our blog readers to Christine Kukka’s monthly HBV Journal Review that she writes for the HBV Advocate. The journal presents the
latest in hepatitis B research, treatment, and prevention from recent academic and medical journals. This month, the following topics are explored:
- Half of Patients with HBV Genotype C Will Lose HBsAg
- Five-year Study Shows Tenofovir Dramatically Improves Cirrhosis
- Tenofovir Also Effective Against Adefovir and Multi-drug Resistance
- Tenofovir Is Effective in Pregnant Women Who Have Resistance to Other Drugs
- Estimates of Liver Cirrhosis in the U.S. Jump 50%
- Taking Antivirals for Three Years After Undetectable Viral Load Reduces Relapse Risk
- Study Finds Antivirals Can Replace Costly HBIG after Liver Transplant Surgery
- Hospitalized Hepatitis B Patients Have Higher Death Rates and Longer Stays Than Hepatitis C Patients
- Small Study Finds Psoriasis Treatment May Not Reactivate Hepatitis B
- Emulsion Made from Ginkgo Leaves Shows Promise Against Hepatitis B
- Experimental Treatment Boosts the Immune System and Slows Viral Replication
- HIV-HBV Coinfected Patients Have High Rates of Hip Fractures
April 1, 2015
Volume 12, No 4
by Christine M. Kukka
Half of Patients with HBV Genotype C Will Lose HBsAg
Researchers predict half of people infected with genotype C of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) will clear the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) over their lifetimes. This strain of HBV is found primarily in Asia and among Asian-Americans. Clearing HBsAg reduces a patient’s risk of liver damage and cancer.
In this study, researchers followed 2,121 patients between the ages of 28 and 75 who tested negative for the hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg). Based on the 338 patients who cleared HBsAg over the course of the study, researchers predicted that 56.4% of patients with genotype C would lose HBsAg over their lifetimes, compared to patients with genotype B, who had a 45.7% lifetime clearance rate.
In addition to having genotype C, being male, having elevated ALT levels and lower viral load and HBsAg levels helped increase the patients’ odds of clearing HBsAg.
The researchers, reporting in the March 2015 journal of Alimentary, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, wrote, “We found that patients with genotype C infection cleared HBsAg earlier than genotype B (age 49 vs. age 55).”
Source: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/
apt.13170/full
Five-year Study Shows Tenofovir Dramatically Improves Cirrhosis
In one of the largest studies of its kind, a group of international researchers have confirmed that five years of treatment with the potent antiviral tenofovir (Viread) in patients with liver scarring (cirrhosis) dramatically improved their liver health and survival.
Continue reading this review and remainder of April review here.