Hope-For-HepB Top10 April 2009

Antiviral therapy for hepatitis B-related liver cancer prevention is more cost-effective than cancer screening.

Robotin MC, Kansil M, Howard K, George J, Tipper S, Dore GJ, Levy M, Penman AG.

J Hepatol. 2009 Feb 15. [Epub ahead of print]

Rating & Commentary
** Modelling study indicating that for patients with chronic hepatitis B HCC surveillance coupled with antiviral therapy is preferable to HCC surveillance as a cancer control strategy.

A Significant Proportion of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Who are Candidates for Antiviral Treatment are Untreated: A Region-wide Survey in Italy.

Giannini EG, Torre F, Basso M, Feasi M, Boni S, Grasso A, De Leo P, Dodi F, Marazzi MG, Azzola E, Bartolacci V, Percario G, Beltrame A, Borro P, Savarino V, Picciotto A; for the Ligurian Hepatitis B Virus Study Group.

J Clin Gastroenterol. 2009 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Rating & Commentary
** A region wide survey documenting that 84% of chronic hepatitis B patients who are potential treatment candidates are not being treated.

Adefovir for chronic hepatitis B treatment: identification of virological markers linked to therapy response.

Rodriguez-Frias F, Jardi R, Schaper M, Buti M, Ferrer-Costa C, Tabernero D, Homs M, Esteban R.

Antivir Ther. 2008;13(8):991-9.

Rating & Commentary
* A small cohort study of 41 patients indicating that the rtL217R polymorphism may be related to a reduced antiviral response to adefovir.

Natural history of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhotic patients hospitalized to control ascites.

Kim SU, Han KH, Nam CM, Park JY, Kim do Y, Chon CY, Ahn SH.

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008;23(11):1722-7.

Rating & Commentary
* Detailed information of the disease course of HBV-related cirrhotics with ascites.

Long-term outcome of hepatitis B e antigen-negative hepatitis B surface antigen carriers in relation to changes of alanine aminotransferase levels over time.

Tai DI, Lin SM, Sheen IS, Chu CM, Lin DY, Liaw YF.

Hepatology. 2009 Feb 2. [Epub ahead of print]

Rating & Commentary
** Large prospective cohort study of 4376 chronic HBeAg-negative HBV carriers demonstrating that the incidence of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality is associated with increasing maximal ALT level during follow-up, especially in those with maximal ALT of at least 2 times ULN, as compared with those who maintained normal ALT.

Interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis B reduces progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Yang YF, Zhao W, Zhong YD, Xia HM, Shen L, Zhang N.

J Viral Hepat. 2009 Apr;16(4):265-71. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

Rating & Commentary
* A meta-analysis of 2082 subjects that indicates that IFN prevents or delays the development of liver cirrhosis and HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Twenty-two years follow-up of a prospective randomized trial of hepatitis B vaccines without booster dose in children: final report.

But DY, Lai CL, Lim WL, Fung J, Wong DK, Yuen MF.

Vaccine. 2008;26(51):6587-91.

Rating & Commentary
* Long-term follow-up study of 22 years demonstrating that primary HBV vaccination given in childhood without booster dose offers adequate long-term protective immunity against HBV infection.

Long-term therapy with clevudine for chronic hepatitis B can be associated with myopathy characterized by depletion of mitochondrial DNA.

Seok JI, Lee DK, Lee CH, Park MS, Kim SY, Kim HS, Jo HY, Lee CH, Kim DS.

Hepatology. 2009 Mar 29. [Epub ahead of print]

Rating & Commentary
** First study reporting that long-term clevudine therapy can induce the depletion of mitochondrial DNA and lead to mitochondrial myopathy associated with myonecrosis.

Sustained response of hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients 3 years after treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a.

Marcellin P, Bonino F, Lau GK, Farci P, Yurdaydin C, Piratvisuth T, Jin R, Gurel S, Lu ZM, Wu J, Popescu M, Hadziyannis S; Peginterferon alfa-2a in HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B Study Group.

Gastroenterology. 2009 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print]

Rating & Commentary
* Long term follow-up study suggesting that 25% of patients with HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis B are 3 years sustained responders after a 48-week course of peginterferon.

Evaluation of Serial Hepatitis B Virus DNA Levels on the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Chan HL, Wong VW, Wong GL, Chim AM, Lai LH, Sung JJ.

J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Rating & Commentary
* A case-control study of 506 chronic hepatitis B patients, demonstrating that a high trough HBV DNA (defined as lowest level among all studied visits) was associated with higher risk of HCC. Liver cirrhosis was also an independent predictor of development of HCC.