Viral hepatitis in practice

Viral hepatitis in practice - 2015

November 2015, Volume 7 Number 2

Development of an HCV vaccine: where are we at?
Felicity Hartnell and Eleanor Barnes
pp 17-20
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health burden, with an estimated 3–4 million new cases annually worldwide. The development of a prophylactic vaccine for HCV would address a huge clinical need.

Comment: One virus, diverse aspects
Alastair Miller
pp 18-18
This issue of Viral hepatitis in practice concentrates on hepatitis C virus, touching on some very different aspects.

Modern approaches to managing acute HCV infection in HIV patients
James Millard, Daniel Bradshaw and Mark R Nelson
pp 21-23
An epidemic of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among HIV-infected men who have sex with men, in the context of high-risk sexual and drug-taking behaviours, has been described in recent years in industrialised countries. Transmission is predominantly permucosal and levels of reinfection are high. Treating chronic HCV infection in this population has traditionally been challenging in view of accelerated liver disease and decreased responsiveness to interferon-based therapies.

Addressing the issue of hepatitis C in the Pakistani population in England
Dean Linzey and Safina Shahin
pp 24-25
There are an estimated 214,000 people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the UK, including approximately 160,000 in England (that is, 0.4% of the population). It is well established that HCV detection rates are poor in England. In 2012, engagement with services leading to treatment was only 3%. There are many reasons for this, including the chaotic lifestyle of many service users, and the fact that many are transient, and an inflexible service provision that has not been built around local needs.

Current treatment options for hepatitis C virus genotype 3
Ben Stone
pp 26-28
Genotype 3 is the second most prevalent hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, accounting for approximately 30% of HCV infections worldwide and 45% of the estimated 214,000 cases of chronic HCV infection in the UK.

New tests for HCV infection: can dried blood spot and point-of-care tests reach those missed so far?
Josh T Coats and John F Dillon
pp 29-31
More than 185 million people worldwide have been infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Most of those infected develop chronic infection, which puts them at increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic failure and death. Infection typically occurs after the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions, but can also occur sexually. People who inject drugs are at high risk of acquiring HCV, and this often happens soon after they start intravenous drug use.

June 2015, Volume 7 Number 1

Viral hepatitis in practice was previously supported by Gilead Sciences from 2015 to 2016, by Gilead Sciences and Janssen in 2014, by Gilead Sciences and Roche Products in 2013 and by Gilead Sciences from 2009 to 2012.

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ISSN 2041-1162 (Print) ISSN 2045-7863 (Online)