Hepatitis B crónica en pediatría: tratar o no tratar, esa es la pregunta / Chronic hepatitis B in pediatrics: To treat or not to treat, that is the question

La infección crónica con el virus B de la hepatitis es una de las enfermedades de mayor prevalencia mundial. Puede evolucionar a la cirrosis y carcinoma hepatocelular. La detección temprana, evitar la utilización de drogas intravenosas, la educación sexual y la vacunación son fundamentales para la prevención. La infección neonatal y durante el primer año de vida evoluciona hacia la cronicidad en más del 90 % de los niños. La transmisión vertical, de una madre con virus B de la hepatitis al recién nacido, es, actualmente, la forma más frecuente de infección. Su detección y la administración de inmunoglobulinas y vacuna disminuyen esta vía de infección. El tratamiento antiviral puede acelerar en dos o tres años el pasaje de la fase activa a la inactiva de la infección, sin influir en el proceso hacia la recuperación. El tratamiento oportuno de algunos casos elegidos puede evitar la progresión de la enfermedad

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. It may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. An early detection, not using intravenous drugs, sex education, and immunization are critical for prevention. An infection in the neonatal period and in the first year of life becomes chronic in more than 90 % of children. Vertical transmission from a mother with hepatitis B virus to the newborn infant is currently the most common mode of transmission. Detection, immunoglobulin administration, and immunization help to reduce it. Antiviral therapy may accelerate the transition from the active to the inactive phase of infection by two or three years, without affecting the recovery process. A timely treatment of some selected cases may prevent hepatitis B progression.

Chapter of Gastroenterologists professional guidance for management of patients with liver disease in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic

In this paper, we aim to provide professional guidance to clinicians who are managing patients with chronic liver disease during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Singapore. We reviewed and summarised the available relevant published data on liver disease in COVID-19 and the advisory statements that were issued by major professional bodies, such as the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and European Association for the Study of the Liver, contextualising the recommendations to our local situation.

Hepatitis B crónica / Chronic B hepatitis

Chronic hepatitis B is a major public health problem, causing 30% of cirrhosis worldwide and up to 50% of hepatocellular carcinoma. In high prevalence regions, virus transmission is mainly vertical, which is associated with a risk of chronic disease in 90% of cases. The development of chronic hepatitis in adults is less than 5%, but it could reach up to 30% in patients with immunosuppression. In the evaluation of subjects with HBV infection is recommended to investigate risk factors for progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, test for sexually transmitted infections and control liver comorbidities that will affect patient's prognosis, such as chronic alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and coinfection with hepatitis C and HIV. Management of patients with chronic hepatitis B includes testing and prevention for contacts, control of comorbidities, and specific treatment with antivirals when indicated. Treatment with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues is considered of choice as they are safe, achieves adequate control of viral replication and reduces the risk of liver complications. The goal of the WHO is to achieve a significant decrease in the prevalence of hepatitis B by 2030 through preventive measures in regions with a high prevalence of the disease.

La infección por el virus de la hepatitis B (VHB) es un importante problema de salud pública, estimándose que causa 30% de los casos de cirrosis a nivel mundial y hasta 50% de los hepatocarcinomas. En las regiones de alta prevalencia, la transmisión del virus es principalmente vertical, la que se asocia a un riesgo de cronificación de hasta 90%. Por el contrario, el desarrollo de hepatitis crónica en adultos es menor de 5% y en inmunosupresión puede alcanzar hasta 30%. En la evaluación de sujetos con infección por VHB es necesaria pesquisar factores de riesgo de progresión a cirrosis y hepatocarcinoma, detectar otras infecciones de transmisión sexual y controlar comorbilidades hepáticas que afectarán el pronóstico del paciente, como el consumo crónico de alcohol, el hígado graso no alcohólico o la coinfección con hepatitis C y VIH. El manejo de los pacientes con hepatitis B crónica requiere preocuparse del testeo y medidas de prevención para los contactos, control de comorbilidades y tratamiento específico con antivirales cuando existe indicación. El tratamiento con análogos de nucleótidos/nucleósidos se considera de elección al ser seguro, lograr un adecuado control de la replicación viral y disminuir riesgo de complicaciones hepáticas. El objetivo de la OMS es lograr una disminución significativa de la prevalencia de la hepatitis B el año 2030 a través de medidas preventivas en regiones de alta prevalencia de la enfermedad.

The expert consensus on clinical cure (functional cure) of chronic hepatitis B / 中华肝脏病杂志

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major world public health problem. Current guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have suggested clinical cure (also known as functional cure) as the ideal therapeutic goal, which is associated with decreased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical cure is defined as sustained, undetectable serum HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA with or without seroconversion to anti-HBs, but with the persistence of residual cccDNA, accompanied by resolution of liver injury after the completion of a finite course of treatment. Accumulating data from a series of randomized controlled trials as well as clinical practice have confirmed certain clinical benefit of optimal sequential/ combination strategies of direct acting antiviral drugs (DAA) [such as nucleoside analogues (NA)] or immunomodulators (such as pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN)] for appropriately selected CHB patients. This consensus provides an updated and comprehensive analysis of the data supporting the use of combination therapies and summarizes the roadmap towards clinical cure of CHB to guide decision-making in clinical practice.

Coût financier de la prise en charge des hépatites virales chroniques B et C au CHU de Brazzaville (Congo)

Introduction. Les dépenses de santé ont considérablement augmenté dans le monde lors de la dernière décennie. Les hépatites virales chroniques B et C sont des affections chroniques nécessitant un traitement prolongé et qui est encore coûteux, le Congo ne disposant pas encore d'assistance maladie universelle. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer le coût de la prise en charge des hépatites virales B et C au Congo. Matériels et Méthodes. Il s'agit d'une étude transversale rétrospective et descriptive, réalisée du 1er juin au 31 Décembre 2016 dans le service de Gastro-entérologie et médecine interne du CHU de Brazzaville. Nous avons colligé les dossiers des patients suivis pour hépatite B et C. Les variables d'étude ont été les coûts des examens paracliniques et les coûts des traitements. Résultats. les coûts des examens paracliniques étaient de 296 000 FCFA (451€) pour le coût maximum de l'hépatite B, celui de l'hépatite C était de 596 500 FCFA (910,6 €). Les coûts du traitement de l'hépatite virale C étaient de 1 050 000 FCFA (1603,05 €) pour trois mois. Pour l'hépatite B, ils étaient de 389 987 (595,4€) par semestre. Le coût global de la prise de l'hépatite virale C était de 1 345 313 FCFA (2053,9€) et de 535 569 (817,662 €) pour l'hépatite B. Conclusion. Les coûts de la prise en charge des hépatites B et C sont encore trop élevés au Congo. Une prise en charge globale s'avère nécessaire, similaire à celle de l'infection à VIH

Vivências e necessidades de saúde de homens no período pós-nascimento de um filho / Experiences and health needs of men in the period post-birth of a child / Experiencias y necesidades de salud de los hombres en el período post-nacimiento de un hijo

Esta pesquisa aborda percepções de homens sobre suas experiências e necessidades de saúde no pós-nascimento. Objetiva-se distinguir analiticamente, a partir de uma perspectiva de gênero, necessidades de saúde relativas ao evento, experimentadas, expressas e/ou negadas pelos homens. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo, qualitativo, realizado em dois territórios de saúde de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, mediante entrevista semiestruturada e análise temática dos dados. Participaram oito homens que vivenciavam o pós-nascimento de um filho. Estes manifestaram, sobretudo, a necessidade de provimento de segurança financeira à família, destacando também a necessidade de bem estar do filho, acessando o retorno afetivo que a experiência traz. Não se reconheciam com necessidades de saúde no pós-nascimento. O apoio dos serviços locais de saúde é importante para que os homens se percebam na vivência da paternidade e a sua relação com aspectos socioculturais, para que distingam necessidades próprias, valorizem o cuidado de si e adotem uma perspectiva equânime de gênero.

This research addresses men’s perceptions about their experiences and health needs in the post-birth period. The goal is to distinguish analytically and from a gender perspective the health needs related to the event, experienced, expressed and/or denied by men. This is an exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study carried out in two municipal health areas of Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, using a semi structured interview and thematic analysis of the data. The participants were eight men who were experiencing the post-birth period of a child. Above all, they expressed the need to provide financial security to the family, emphasizing also the need of their children’s well-being, with the affective return that this experience brings. They did not perceive themselves with health needs during the post-birth period. The support provided by local health services is important so that men can understand the experience of parenthood and its relationship with social and cultural aspects in order to distinguish their own needs, appreciate self-care, and adopt a gender equity perspective.

Esta investigación aborda las percepciones de hombres acerca de sus experiencias y necesidades de salud en el período postparto. El objetivo es distinguir analíticamente, desde una perspectiva de género, las necesidades de salud relacionadas al evento, experimentadas, expresadas y/o negadas por los hombres. Se trata de un estudio exploratorio, descriptivo y cualitativo llevado a cabo en dos áreas municipales de salud de Cuiabá, Estado de Mato Grosso, mediante entrevista semiestructurada y análisis temático de los datos. Participaron ocho hombres que experimentaban el período postparto de un hijo. Ellos expresaron, sobre todo, la necesidad de proveer seguridad económica a la familia, destacando también la necesidad del bienestar de los hijos, con el retorno afectivo que esa experiencia proporciona. No se reconocían con necesidades de salud en el período postparto. El apoyo de los servicios locales de salud es importante para que los hombres entiendan la experiencia de la paternidad y su relación con aspectos socioculturales, para que distingan las necesidades, valoren el cuidado de sí mismos y adopten una perspectiva de equidad de género.

Evaluación económica del tratamiento de la Hepatitis B crónica en la Provincia de Misiones / Economic Evaluation of Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B in the Province of Misiones

La infección crónica por hepatitis B representa una importante carga sanitaria en el mundo y en Argentina. Existen varias estrategias terapéuticas, cuyo objetivo es reducir la carga viral. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la costo-efectividad de las diferentes estrategias de tratamiento, tanto en pacientes positivos como negativos al antígeno e de hepatitis B (HBeAg). MÉTODOS: Se utilizó un modelo de decisión determinístico, que contempló los principales estados de salud asociados al virus de la hepatitis B desde la perspectiva del sistema de seguridad social de Misiones en un lapso de 10 años. Se recabaron los costos de las drogas, de los eventos clínicos y sus complicaciones. Se efectuaron diversos análisis de sensibilidad de una vía para evaluar la incertidumbre. RESULTADOS: El tratamiento con monoterapia de tenofovir se asoció con menores costos y mayor eficacia. Esto se demostró tanto en pacientes positivos como negativos al HBeAg, donde se observó un ahorro, con un costo inferior a un producto bruto interno per cápita por año de vida ajustado por calidad y tasa de costo-efectividad incremental dominante en ambos escenarios. Los análisis de sensibilidad confirmaron los valores del escenario base (con el costo del tenofovir como variable de mayor influencia). CONCLUSIONES: El tratamiento con tenofovir resultó ser relativamente ahorrativo en términos de costos. Estos modelos podrían facilitar la toma de decisiones por parte de las autoridades de salud pública de Misiones...

Chronic infection by hepatitis B is a serious health burden worldwide and in Argentina.There are several therapeutic strategies aiming at reducing the viral load. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different treatment strategies, both in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and -negative patients. METHODS: A deterministic decision model was used, which considered the main health outcomes associated with hepatitis B virus from the perspective of social security system of the province of Misiones in a 10-year term. The study collected data about costs of drugs, clinical events and complications. Several one-way sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate uncertainty. RESULTS: Treatment with Tenofovir monotherapy was associated with lower costs and higher efficacy. This was proved both in HBeAg-positive and -negativepatients, since Tenofovir treatment was cost-saving,with a cost lower than one gross domestic product per capita per quality-adjusted life year, being the incremental cost-effectiveness rate strategy dominant in both scenarios. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the values of the baselin escenario and showed that the most influential parameterwas Tenofovir cost. CONCLUSIONS: Tenofovir treatment proved to be relatively cost-saving. These models may beuseful for the decision-making by public health authoritiesin the province of Misiones...

Epidemiología, evolución y respuesta a tratamiento con diferentes esquemas de la hepatitis B crónica en pacientes pediátricos / Epidemiology, evolution and response to different treatment options of pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis B

La hepatitis B crónica constituye un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial y la población pediátrica no se encuentra excluida de este problema. El objetivo fue evaluar la epidemiología de esta patología en pacientes pediátricos en Venezuela y la respuesta de estos pacientes a las diferentes opciones terapéuticas que disponemos. Se realizó estudio multicéntrico y retrospectivo. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes pediátricos con infección crónica por virus B que consultan a diferentes consultas de Gastroenterología Pediátrica en el país. De 15537 pacientes pediátricos que acudieron a consultas de Gastroenterología pediátricas de diferentes centros hospitalarios encontramos 148 pacientes con hepatitis B crónica dado por persistencia Ags VHB positivo por más de 6 meses que representan el 1% de los pacientes evaluados. De los 148 pacientes 111 (75%) pertenecen al sexo masculino y 37 (25%) al sexo femenino, en edades comprendidas desde 1 año hasta 18 años con promedio de 11,25 años y un tiempo de seguimiento comprendido de entre 3 meses y 14 años con un promedio de 4,45 años. Se evaluaron las formas de transmisión para la adquisición de la infección crónica por VHB entre las que tenemos 65 pacientes (44%) habían tenido patologías oncológicas, 3 (2%) patologías hematológicas, antecedentes intervenciones quirúrgicas 3 (2%), transmisión vertical 11 (7%), transmisión horizontal 4 (3%), insuficiencia renal crónica 2 (1,3%), cardiópatas 1 (0,7%) y se desconoce la causa en 59 (40%). De los 148 pacientes 72 (49%) son portadores activos dado por Ags VHB positivo, Age VHB positivo y ADN VHB positivo. De los 72 pacientes portadores activos 44 (61%) tenían aminotranferasas normales y 28 (39%) tenían aminotranferasas elevadas, 34 (47%) tenían carga viral para VHB mayor de 20000 UI/ ml y 38 (53%) carga viral entre 2000 a 20000 UI/ml. De los 72 pacientes portadores activos se les realizó biopsia hepática a 55 pacientes de los cuales 52 tenían hallazgos de infección...

Chronic hepatitis B represents a major public health problem world wide and pediatric population is not excluded from this reality. We aimed to assess the epidemiology of this disease in pediatric patients in Venezuela and the response of these patients to different treatment options available. A retrospective and multicenter study was conducted. We included all pediatric patients with chronic infection by virus B who were evaluated in different Pediatric Gastroenterology Units all over the the country. Out of 15537 pediatric patients attending Pediatric Gastroenterology Units in different hospitals, 148 resulted with the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B given by a positive and persistent Ags HBV for more than 6 months. This represented 1% of all patients evaluated. Of all 148 patients, 111 (75%) were male and 37 (25%) female, aged from 1 year up to 18 years (average 11,25 years). The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 14 years (average 4.45 years). Most frecuent transmission of HBV infection was related to onchological pathologies in 65 patients (44%), hematologic diseases in 3 (2%), surgery 3 (2%), vertical transmission 11 (7%), horizontal transmission 4 (3%), chronic renal insufficiency 2 (1.3%), cardiopathy 1 (0.7%) and unknown cause in 59 (40%). 72 patients (49%) were considered active carriers with positives Ags HBV, Age HBV and HBV DNA. Out of these 72 patients, 44 (61%) had normal aminotranferases and 28 (39%) had high levels of aminotransferases, 34 (47%) had viral load over 20000 UI/ml and 38 (53%) viral load between 2000 and 20000 UI/ml. 55 patients underwent liver biopsy: 52 had findings of chronic HBV infection, 17 (31%) had fibrosis, 1 featured cirrhosis and 3 (2% of the total number of patients) had no liver injury by HBV. This was considered the group of inmunotolerants. 52 patients were treated. 1 patient received Lamivudine with a positive response, 12 patients received monotherapy with Pegylated Interferon (7 patients responded)...

Behavior and major barriers faced by non-injectable drug users with HBV/HCV seeking treatment for hepatitis and drug addiction in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Comportamentos e barreiras relacionados à busca ao tratamento para a hepatite e dependência química entre usuários de drogas não injetáveis com hepatite crônica do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Drug users (DU) are a marginalized group and at risk for viral hepatitis, who seldom access health services. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 111 DU with chronic HBV/HCV and 15 in-depth interviews with health professionals/policymakers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Most interviewees were male, non-white, with a low educational background, unemployed and/or living on less than $245 a month (minimun wage). In the last 6 months, 61.8 percent of interviewees snorted cocaine, 64.7 percent at least once a week. Half of the interviewees had a stable partner and 38.3 percent of those with occasional partners never/almost never using condoms. Addiction treatment seeking was found to be associated with: being white (OR:5.5), high-school degree (OR:8.7), and employment (OR:5.7). Hepatitis treatment seeking was high (80.9 percent), and access to low-threshold, user-friendly health services was key for treatment seeking behaviors (OR:3.6). Missed opportunities for hepatitis treatment seem to be associated with structural (uneven political/financial support to hepatitis programs) and patient-related barriers (severe addiction and non-adherence). Those most in need were less likely to access treatment, calling for renewed strategies, in order to curb hepatitis among impoverished drug users and their sexual partners.

Usuários de drogas (UD) são uma população marginalizada e sob risco para hepatites virais que raramente acessam tratamento. Foi utilizado inquérito com 110 UD com Hepatite crônica e 15 entrevistas em profundidade com profissionais e gestores de saúde. A maioria dos entrevistados é homem, não branco, com baixa escolaridade, desempregado e com renda < salário mínimo. Nos últimos 6 meses, 61,8 por cento usaram cocaína inalada e 64,7 por cento uma vez por semana ou mais. Dos participantes, 50 por cento tiveram relações sexuais com parceiros estáveis e 38,3 por cento com parceiros ocasionais nunca/quase nunca usando preservativos. Preditores de busca por tratamento para dependência química incluem: raça/cor branca (OR:5.5), ter ensino médio (OR:8.7) e estar empregado (OR:5.7). 80,9 por cento dos participantes buscou tratamento para hepatite, o acesso a serviços mais acolhedores é determinante para esse comportamento (OR:3.6). Oportunidades perdidas para tratamento de hepatite estão associadas a barreiras estruturais (inadequado apoio político/financeiro aos programas) e barreiras individuais (dependência química severa e baixa aderência). Aqueles que mais precisam de tratamento possuem menor chance de obtê-lo, salientando a importância de renovar estratégias para responder à epidemia de hepatite entre usuários de drogas empobrecidos e seus parceiros sexuais.

Guía de práctica clínica para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hepatitis crónica por el virus de la hepatitis B / Practice guideline for diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis virus hepatitis B

La presente guía establece los criterios técnicos para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hepatitis crónica secundaria a hepatitis viral B con la finalidad de contribuir a reducir la morbimortalidad de esta enfermedad. Da las definiciones para comprender las recomendaciones aquí dadas. Descripción de aspectos epidemiológicos, factores de riesgo asociados; aspectos clínicos y de diagnóstico de la hepatitis crónica por virus B. Se dan las recomendaciones de manejo incluyendo circunstancias especiales tales como el paciente con cirrosis, el paciente con coinfección VIH ó con coinfección con hepatitis C. Las recomendaciones aquí mencionadas se convierten en la guía nacional para el manejo de la Hepatitis crónica por hepatitis B.

This guide sets out the technical criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis secondary to viral hepatitis B. The guide intend to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease. The Guide give practical definitions to help understand the terminology, describe epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical aspects and the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B. Finally the guide give recommendations for the management including special circumstances such as patients with cirrhosis, patients coinfected with HIV or coinfected with hepatitis C. The recommendations of the guide become the national guide for the management of chronic hepatitis B.

Hepatite crônica B / Chronic hepatitis B

A infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B (VHB) é um importante problema de saúde pública, associado a significante morbidade e mortalidade por doença crônica do fígado. Em pacientes com infecção crônica pelo VHB as lesões hepáticas são imunomediadas, através de citocinas, expressando a tentativa do sistema imune de destruir o agente viral. O ccDNA, entretanto, persiste na célula infectada, caracterizando não haver a cura da infecção viral mesmo quando há evidência sorológica de "clearence viral" e a viremia está indetectável.

Management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a promising approach using small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Hepatitis B virus infection continues to be a major global health problem with an estimated 350 million carriers. The response to available treatment modalities is not impressive. The advent of RNA Interference--a phenomenon of sequence-specific degradation of RNAs mediated by double-stranded RNA--holds promise as a potential therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Synthetic preparations of short RNA (21-23 bp long) can be used to mediate this process of gene silencing with a lower immune response. The duration of suppression can be further increased by using a vector delivery system. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has several advantages over conventional therapy, which include fewer side-effects, a lower chance of developing escape mutants and non-requirement of viral replication for its action. A potent knockdown of the gene of interest with high sequence specificity makes RNA interference a powerful tool that has shown antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus. However, the 'off-target effect', i.e. suppression of genes other than the intended target, poor siRNA stability, inefficient cellular uptake, widespread biodistribution and non-specific effects need to be overcome. The problem of long-term toxicity of siRNA should be addressed and an ideal vector delivery system needs to be designed before it can be put to clinical use.

Estimativas de custo da hepatite crônica B no sistema único de saúde Brasileiro em 2005 / Cost estimates of chronic hepatitis B virus for the Brazilian unified health system in 2005

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar o padrão de tratamento, a utilização de recursos e os gastos para cada estágio da HCVB, no ambiente do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) do Brasil, no ano 2005. MÉTODOS: Foi desenvolvido painel Delphi de especialistas para obter informação sobre o padrão de tratamento da HCVB no Brasil. Os dados foram coletados com dez médicos especialistas em hepatologia e doenças infecciosas. A valoração dos recursos foi obtida predominantemente das tabelas de pagamentos do Sistema Único de Saúde e tabelas de preços de medicamentos. As estimativas de custo tiveram a perspectiva do pagador público. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo programa SPSS 12.0 para Windows. RESULTADOS: Os gastos estimados dos pacientes foram separados em cada estágio da HCVB. O gasto estimado anual por paciente foi: R$ 980,89 para hepatite B crônica, sem cirrose e sem tratamento antiviral; R$ 1.243,17 para cirrose compensada sem tratamento antiviral; R$ 22.022,61 para cirrose descompensada; R$ 4.764,95 para o carcinoma hepatocelular; e R$ 87.372,60 para o transplante hepático. CONCLUSÃO: Os gastos estimados com procedimentos e medicamentos, excluindo antivirais, representaram os principais componentes do gasto da HCVB. Neste modelo, os gastos aumentam dramaticamente nos estágios mais avançados, sugerindo que retardar a progressão da doença poderá reduzir o gasto no longo prazo.

BACKGROUD: Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (CHBV) is a disease that places a large financial burden on healthcare systems and society. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate patient management patterns, and associated medical resource utilization and expenses, for each of the four stages of chronic HBV infection in the public unified healthcare system settings, in 2005. METHODS. An expert panel comprised of ten physicians, leading specialists in hepathology and infectious diseases, was convened to obtain information regarding management of CHBV patients in Brazil. Expense inputs were mainly obtained from government fee schedules and pharmaceutical price tables. Costs were estimated under the perspective of the public health system. Data were analyzed using Windows SPSS version 12.0. RESULTS: Estimated patient expenses were calculated for the four stages of CHBV infection. The estimated annual expenses per patient were: R$ 980.89 (US$ 392) for chronic hepatitis B with no cirrhosis and without antiviral therapy; R$ 1,243.17 (US$ 496) for compensated cirrhosis without antiviral therapy; R$ 22,022.61 (US$ 8809) for decompensated cirrhosis; R$ 4,764.95 (US$ 1,905) for hepatocellular carcinoma; and R$ 87,372.60 (US$ 34,948) for liver transplant. CONCLUSION: Estimated expenses associated with drugs and procedures represented the main components of the expenses of CHBV infection. In this model, expenses increase dramatically as the disease progresses to more advanced stages, suggesting that over the long term delaying progression may reduce costs.

Curso Terapêutica em Gastroenterologia: Aula 5: Tratamento da Hepatite B Crônica / Therapeutics in Gastroenteroly Course: 5 Class: Chronic hepatitis B treatment

A infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B (VHB) é uma das principais causs de coença hepática crônica no mundo. O risco de pregressão para hepatite crônica ocorre em 5 porcento a 10 porcento dos adultos e em 90 por cento dos neonatos. Este grupo de indivíduos cronicamente infectados encontra-se especialmente propenso às complicações mais temidas da doença: cirrose hepática e carcinoma hepatocelulr (CHC), motivo pelo qual evidencia-se e crescente reconhecimento das mais novas opções terapêuticas de combate ao vírus

Secreción de interferon por los linfocitos T periféricos de los portadores crónicos del virus de hepatitis B / Interferon G secretion by the peripheral lymphocyts T of the chronic carries of the hepatitis B virus

Previamente demostramos que los linfocitos T periféricos de los portadores crónicos del VHB activados “in vitro” con fitohemaglutinina (PHA) o con anticuerpos monoclonales anti-CD3 secretan interleucina-2 (IL-2) y expresan receptores para IL-2, IL-6 y para el factor de necrosis tumoral. Investigamos la producción de interferón por células T altamente purificadas (98 por ciento CD3+) de 14 pacientes infectados crónicamente por el VHB. Los linfocitos T se activaron con PHA sola (0.5g/mL) y con PHA añadiendo 100 L de sobrenadantes de monocitos (SMo) obtenidos después de la activación de los monocitos autólogos y alogénicos con lipopolisacárido. Los linfocitos T estimulados con PHA de los pacientes infectados por el VHB secretaron interferón en forma similar a los controles (438+129 vs. 577+127 pg/mL). En presencia de PHA más SMo autólogos, los linfocitos T de los pacientes no sufrieron modificación en la secreción de interferon, siendo la misma significativamente menor a la demostrada por las células T de los controles cultivadas en iguales condiciones (589+124 vs. 922+121 pg/mL; p<0.05). Al adicionar SMo alogénicos (PHA + SMo de controles), los linfocitos T de los portadores crónicos del VHB incrementaron la producción de interferón a una concentración significativamente mayor a la obtenida en presencia de PHA sola (752+123 vs. 438+129 pg/mL; p<0.01). En conclusión, los linfocitos T periféricos de los portadores crónicos del VHB son capaces de secretar interferón y responden incrementando esta secreción cuando son expuestos a factores solubles de monocitos alogénicos lo que indica que esta población celular T preserva su habilidad funcional para mediar respuestas inmunes

[Importance of vaccination chronic hepatitis B]

Weak therapeutic responses and weak immune cytotoxic CD8 and CD4 response in chronic hepatitis B emphasize the necessity to find new therapeutic strategies especially as specific immunotherapy. Vaccination, whose principle was to widen immune repertoire, was used as a curative treatment of chronic hepatitis B. It would be the therapeutic procedure with the lowest cost and the potentially greatest benefit. Our purpose was to enhance the interest of therapeutic vaccination in chronic hepatitis B in order to debate later its usefulness in developing countries

Reagudização de hepatite B crônica associada à quimioterapia e neoplasias hematológicas: relato de três casos e revisão de literatura / Chronic hepatitis B flares associated to chemotherapy and hematological neoplasms: report of three cases and literature review

Existem cerca de 350 milhões de pessoas infectadas pelo VHB em todo mundo.As reagudizações fazem parte da história natural da hepatite B e são causadas por vários fatores, alguns identificáveis e potencialmente tratáveis. as exacerbações do VHB são frequentes após uso de imunossupressores, quimioterápicos e corticosteróides, podendo evoluir desde formas assintomáticas até fulminantes com óbito. O reconhecimento de pacientes com alto risco de apresentar reagudizações é importante, pois estes devem ser monitorados e receber tratamento antiviral adequado. Relatam-se três casos de exacervações do HVB em portadores de neoplasias hematológicas com evoluções distintas. O objetivo é mostrar a importância do reconheciemnto precoce de exacerbações da hepatite B crônica em pacientes que serão submetidos a algum tratamento imunossupressor