Viral hepatitis in practice - 2010

September 2010, Volume 2 Number 2

Spring 2010, Volume 2 Number 1

Current management methods for hepatitis B
Alastair Miller
pp 1-4
Approximately 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and up to 40% of them will develop potentially serious problems as a result of this infection. These sequelae include cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and requirement for liver transplant. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is defined as chronic necroinflammatory disease of the liver caused by persistent infection with HBV.

Comment: Reviewing hepatitis management
Geoffrey Dusheiko
pp 3-3
In this issue, Alastair Miller summarises the current management of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). There are unresolved questions as to the determinants that effect transition between stages of HBV. The clinical significance and possible synergistic effect of occult HBV remains uncertain. HBV treatment targets those with active or progressive disease; such patients are more likely to respond to interferon, and their disease justifies long-term treatment with nucleosides/nucleotides.

Viral hepatitis action in Scotland
Hasnain Jafferbhoy and John F Dillon
pp 5-7
The care of patients with viral hepatitis in Scotland is undergoing a period of radical change, mainly driven by a Scottish government action plan focused on the hepatitis C epidemic in Scotland. This is improving awareness and treatment for all viral hepatitides, including hepatitis B. The lessons for others are what drove policy-makers to action in Scotland, and which factors are particular to Scotland and which are common to all regions.

Recognising outbreaks of hepatitis B
Chee Yung, Gayatri Manikkavasagan and Mary Ramsay
pp 8-11
The timely recognition of potential outbreaks of infectious disease is the first step for triggering an investigation to identify the source and implement appropriate public health measures to limit the spread of infection within the population. This can be particularly challenging for hepatitis B, which has a long incubation period and variable progression rate.