Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis B Lowers Risk of Liver Cancer

Antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can reduce the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even among people with high HBV viral load, according to research described in the May 2014 edition of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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DDW 2014: Some Hepatitis B Patients Can Stop Antiviral Treatment without Relapse

Stopping antiviral therapy after several years appears generally safe for people with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B without liver cirrhosis, and a substantial proportion do not experience viral relapse or worsening liver inflammation while off treatment, according to a pair of posters presented at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW 2014) meeting this week in Chicago.

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Screening and Post-Natal Prophylaxis Reduce Mother-to-Child HBV Transmission

Prenatal screening of pregnant women for hepatitis B virus (HBV), followed by immune prophylaxis for infants using injected hepatitis B antibodies and the first dose of the HBV vaccine given soon after delivery, resulted in a low rate of vertical HBV transmission -- less than 1 per 100 births -- in a real-world study described in the May 27 advance edition of Annals of Internal Medicine.

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May Is Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month in the U.S., an opportunity to promote better understanding of viral hepatitis and to encourage more people to get tested and receive care for hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis Testing Day is coming up on May 19.

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Prevention Task Force Recommends Hepatitis B Screening for People at High Risk

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) last week issued a new recommendation for hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening of non-pregnant adolescents and adults without current symptoms of viral hepatitis. The task force called for screening of people at high risk for infection including people with HIV, gay and bisexual men, and people who inject drugs.

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EASL 2014: Long-term Tenofovir Maintains Viral Suppression in People with Hepatitis B

Treatment with tenofovir (Viread) for 3 years remained effective in keeping hepatitis B virus (HBV) suppressed, normalizing liver inflammation, and potentially reducing liver disease progression, according to studies from Germany, France, and Spain presented at the 49thEASL International Liver Congress (EASL 2014) recently held in London.

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DDW2014: Coverage of Digestive Disease Week 2014

HIVandHepatitis.com coverage of the 2014 Digestive Disease Week annual meeting (DDW 2014) in Chicago, May 3-6, 2014.

Hepatitis C

New Hepatitis C Treatments Highlighted at Digestive Disease Week

Some Negative Predictive Factors Do Not Impair Response to Faldaprevir

AbbVie Interferon-free Regimen Cures More than 90% of Hepatitis C Patients

Sustained Response to Interferon Is Durable in Children with Hepatitis C

HIV/HCV Coinfection

Some Negative Predictive Factors Do Not Impair Response to Faldaprevir

Hepatitis B

Outcomes in HBV/HCV Coinfected People Depend on Which Virus Dominates

Some Hepatitis B Patients Can Stop Antiviral Treatment Without Relapse

Complications and Related Conditions

Rifaximin May Be Beneficial for People with Advanced Liver Cirrhosis

Drinking More Coffee Is Associated with Less Liver Fibrosis

EASL 2014: Sci-B-Vac Bests Engerix-B for Preventing Mother-to-Child HBV Transmission

An investigational vaccine known as Sci-B-Vac given to babies born to women with hepatitis B was more effective at preventing HBV infection than the widely used Engerix-B vaccine, according to a report at the EASL International Liver Congress this month in London.

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