July 28 Is World Hepatitis Day

Thursday, July 28, is World Hepatitis Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about life-threatening viral hepatitis. Over years or decades hepatitis B and C can progress to severe liver disease including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Viral hepatitis is a leading indication for liver transplants worldwide.

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Artificial Liver Device Improves Survival for Hepatitis B and C Patients with Decompensated Disease

An artificial liver device known as ELAD -- which runs a patient's blood through cartridges containing human liver cells -- conferred a significant survival advantage for people with acute decompensated liver disease related to chronic hepatitis B or C, according to a Chinese study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. After 3 years, 44% of ELAD users were still alive without liver transplants, compared with 18% in the standard therapy group.

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Hepatitis B Therapeutic Vaccine Appears Safe and Stimulates Immune Response

In late December, Dynavax Technologies reported findings from a small early clinical trial showing that its investigational hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapeutic vaccine DV-601 -- intended to help control the virus in people already infected, rather than prevent infection -- was well tolerated and produced immunological and virological responses at all dose levels. Larger studies are needed, however, to show whether the vaccine is clinically effective.

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Alcohol and Diabetes Increase Risk of Liver Disease Progression in Hepatitis B Patients

Older patients and men with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were more likely to progress to liver cancer, decompensated cirrhosis, and liver-related death, while Asian patients had lower progression rates, according to an analysis of Kaiser Permanent members presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Diabetes and heavy alcohol use also predicted poor outcomes.

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No Tenofovir Resistance after 3 Years among Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Tenofovir (Viread) remains active against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is not prone to drug-resistance mutations even after 3 years of treatment, according to study results published in the December 22, 2010 advance online edition of Hepatology. Further data presented at a recent liver disease conference indicate that this still remains the case after 4 years.

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Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

Chronic hepatitis B patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis can be treated safely and effectively with antiviral agents, according to a systematic review presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Entecavir (Baraclude) has demonstrated good potency, matching that of lamivudine, but without resistance; newer agents such as tenofovir (Viread) require further study in this population.

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Does Previous Hepatitis B Exposure Increase Liver Cancer Risk?

People who were previously exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) have an increased likelihood of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even if they clear the virus, according to a study presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. These results suggest that individuals with prior HBV exposure, as well as those with chronic hepatitis B, could benefit from regular liver cancer monitoring.Jeffrey Tang and colleagues from Henry Ford Health System in Detroit conducted a retrospective cohort study to explore the association between hepatitis B serologic status and development of HCC among North American patients.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Enhances Co-pay Assistance Program for Entecavir (Baraclude) for Hepatitis B

Bristol-Myers Squibb this summer expanded its co-pay benefit program for individuals receiving or wishing to use entecavir (Baraclude) who have private insurance policies with out-of-pocket costs. The enhanced program will save eligible patients up to $200 per month for 4 years. Eligible participants may request a Co-Pay Benefit Card from their healthcare providers.