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  • You’ve Lost the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Go Celebrate, But Keep Monitoring

    By Christine Kukka Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net After years of living with “inactive’ chronic hepatitis B—with low viral load and no signs of liver damage--some patients may finally lose the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and even develop surface antibodies. This event merits a celebration and a huge sigh of relief, but if you think you will never have to get another blood draw or worry about your liver, think again. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but hepatitis B really never goes away. Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Think herpes, mono, or chicken pox and shingles. Children infected with chickenpox get rid of the infection and the ugly blisters, but very small amounts of the chickenpox (varicella) virus remains in the spinal nerves. As we grow older and our immune systems weaken with age,  our bodies aren't able to suppress the varicella virus any more and it reactivates, causing painful shingles. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) behaves in the same way. When we lose HBsAg and even develop surface antibodies (anti-HBs), there are still HBV lurking in our livers. When we’re healthy, our immune systems suppress the virus and prevent any reactivation, but old age or another disease or medical condition can weaken our bodies and allow the viral infection to reactivate. So, even after we clear HBsAg, we need to stay vigilant and continue to get our liver health monitored regularly. Here is what you need to know: First, what are my chances of ever getting rid of HBsAg and developing the surface antibody? It can happen, especially in older adults after a long period of “inactive” hepatitis B infection. About 1 to 3 percent of people with chronic hepatitis B lose HBsAg each year, and about half of all people with chronic infections who live up to age 75 will lose HBsAg, depending on the amount of HBV DNA in their blood. Your chances of losing HBsAg and developing the surface antibody increase if you have

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/youve-lost-hepatitis-b-surface-antigen-go-celebrate-keep-monitoring/
  • Advocates Raise Awareness About African Immigrants' High Risk of Hepatitis B

    Volunteers at Boston's National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day By Christine Kukka For years, public health advocates have struggled to educate both doctors and Asian-Americans about the high risk of hepatitis B that this ethnic group faces. It’s been a slow, uphill battle marked by moderate success. Despite the fact that one in 12 Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) is chronically infected with hepatitis B, more than two-thirds of them haven’t been screened and don’t know they’re infected. But another group of immigrants and their children—from Sub-Saharan Africa—are also at high risk of hepatitis B and have received even less attention from public health advocates and the medical community across the U.S. Of foreign-born U.S. residents with hepatitis B, about 58 percent are AAPIs and 11 percent come from Africa. In the past 20 years, the number of immigrants–primarily from war-torn Somalia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Egypt--have increased more than 750 percent. There are now 1.6 million African immigrants in the U.S. and 10 percent are believed to be infected with chronic hepatitis B. In the largest study of its kind, 955 African-born residents living in New York City were screened for hepatitis B between 2011 and 2013. Doctors found 74 percent had been infected with hepatitis B in the past, and 9.6 percent had current, chronic or long-term infections. Ponni V. Perumalswami, MD, director of the Hepatitis Outreach Network (HONE) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City “I believe African immigrants have been underserved by our healthcare system,” observed Ponni V. Perumalswami, MD, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Hepatitis Outreach Network (HONE) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and lead researcher of the New York City study. “Similar to Asian-Americans, African immigrants are often not screened or referred to treatment. Additionally, many

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/advocates-raise-awareness-african-immigrants-high-risk-hepatitis-b/
  • Changing Jobs? How to Find the Best Employer Health Plan When You Have Hepatitis B

    Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net By Christine Kukka You’ve just landed a new job with a better paycheck, but how do you make sure your new health plan covers the tests, doctor visits and medications needed for your or a family member’s hepatitis B? Many people with chronic medical conditions find switching health plans can affect the quality of their medical care and requires a careful calculation of what their out-of-pocket healthcare costs may be in the year ahead.  There’s a lot to consider and doing your homework is essential to finding the best employer insurance plan for your health and your wallet. Two key questions to ask are: Can I keep the same family doctor and/or liver specialist?  You don’t want to lose the expertise and personal rapport you may have developed with a provider. And, hepatitis B specialists are few and far between in many regions. Find out what doctors and specialists the new plan covers. Some plans offer several options, so find out which one covers your doctor. If the new plan doesn’t include your liver specialist, are you willing to pay extra to stay with him or her? For more information about health insurance terms and shopping for a plan, click here. How do you make sure the new plan covers your drugs and lab tests? And how do you find this out without disclosing your hepatitis B? First, you cannot be denied coverage — or a job — because of your hepatitis B. The Affordable Care Act prohibits employers from denying anyone coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. However, you need to do your homework and look carefully at the deductibles, copays and coinsurance a plan offers. When you are offered the job, or when you go for your benefits interview with the HR rep after accepting the job, ask for a copy of their health insurance plan and read it over carefully. It may be available online.  Ideally, you want coverage that covers the most and costs the least after you add up

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/changing-jobs-find-best-employer-health-plan-hepatitis-b/
  • Newly Diagnosed with Hepatitis B? Acute or Chronic? Learning the Hep B Basics

    Image courtesy of dream designs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net If you’ve just been diagnosed with hepatitis B after a routine blood test or following a blood donation, you may be feeling overwhelmed with information about this complicated infection and references to acute or chronic hepatitis B. Here is an explanation of these two terms and what happens when you’re first infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and sexual fluids. It can be spread during unprotected sex, unsafe medical procedures, exposure to blood that enters your body through a cut,  or by sharing personal items such as razors, body jewelry or toothbrushes. Most commonly it is spread during childbirth when the mother is infected. What is a chronic infection? When we’re infected as newborns or young children, our immature immune systems don’t notice or fight the virus and it travels to our liver and begins reproducing. With no opposition from our immune systems, a hepatitis B infection can continue for years. When a hepatitis B infection lasts longer than six months, it is considered a chronic or long-term infection. Most people with chronic hepatitis B were infected at birth or during early childhood. Immunization with the hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), if available, within 12 to 24 hours of birth can break this mother-to-child infection cycle, but sometimes the birth dose of the hep B vaccine,  and more often HBIG, is not always available around the world. The birth dose must be followed with the remaining doses of the vaccine, often given as part of a combination vaccine according to schedule. Here are the U.S. and International hep B vaccine schedules.  What is an acute infection? When we’re infected with HBV as healthy adults, about 90 percent of us are able to get rid of the infection within six months. It can take up to six months for our immune systems to generate antibodies and get rid of the infection in our

    https://www.hepb.org/blog/newly-diagnosed-with-hepatitis-b-acute-or-chronic/
  • Celebrate Mothers’ Day with High-Quality Healthcare First, Sentimentality Second

    Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net. By Christine Kukka In 1914, the United States designated the second Sunday in May as “Mothers’ Day.” Its founder, Anna Jarvis, hoped the holiday would focus on her own mother's work promoting peace and public health. Years later, Jarvis protested loudly when the holiday became better known for sentimentality and greeting card sales. Our nation often loses sight of a holiday's original intent, but this Mother's Day we can bring back the goal of preserving public health, especially where it concerns mothers and infectious diseases. Decades ago, researchers developed one of the most extraordinary life-saving vaccines--hepatitis B immunization. It saves lives in two ways: It protects children and adults from infection and it breaks the vicious cycle of mother-to-child infection. A baby born to a hepatitis B-infected almost always becomes infected. The vaccine, administered within hours of birth, breaks that cycle. When the vaccine debuted in the late 1970s and early 1980s, most people with chronic hepatitis B had been infected at birth. When newborns and children are infected, their immune systems don’t recognize or attack the virus and the infection can continue indefinitely. To stop this infection cycle, today all pregnant women are screened for hepatitis B. Babies born to infected women are immediately vaccinated and treated with HBIG (hepatitis B antibodies). This public health initiative has been extremely successful in dramatically reducing hepatitis B. However, the campaign's focus has been primarily on newborns and the hepatitis B-infected mothers were often forgotten. Though hepatitis B infections had been identified, the infected mothers were often lost to follow-up, and this neglect continues today. A report  published in the March 2016 issue of the Journal of Viral Hepatitis followed 243 hepatitis B-infected women who received care during their pregnancies at the

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/celebrate-mothers-day-with-high-quality-healthcare-first-sentimentality-second/
  • Princeton Workshop 2022

    April 27-28, Timothy M. Block Research Campus, Doylestown, Pa. Hepatitis B-Associated Liver Cancer: Opportunities to Address Gaps in Early Detection and Improve Outcomes The Hepatitis B Foundation’s biennial Princeton Workshop this year focused on improving early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or primary liver cancer, the world’s third-leading cause of cancer deaths. Held April 27-28, 2022, at the Foundation’s Headquarters in Doylestown, Pa., the workshop was led by Dr. Brian J. McMahon, Dr. Chari A. Cohen, Dr. Timothy M. Block and members of the Foundation’s Scientific and Medical and Advisory Board. [Note: A report from this meeting recently published in the journal JNCI Cancer Spectrum is available here.] Since our 2015 Princeton Workshop (which also focused on liver cancer), death rates from liver cancer have continued to rise despite the availability of a range of treatments. Outcomes are strongly associated with how advanced the cancer is when it is diagnosed, and most liver cancer is diagnosed at later stages. Current U.S. guidelines recommend liver cancer screening for people at risk every six months, to diagnose liver cancer at earlier states when it there is the greatest chance of cure. However, few people at risk access/undergo appropriate liver cancer surveillance. The 2022 workshop participants discussed the most pressing challenges and barriers to the early detection of liver cancer, as well as tools and technologies that could improve early detection. Workshop participants reviewed technical, patient-level, provider-level and systemic challenges and missed opportunities to detect early stage liver cancer; algorithms for liver cancer risk stratification to help providers and patients more accurately assess their liver cancer risk; and surveillance tools such as new biomarkers and advanced imaging incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI). The workgroup identified that little meaningful progress has been made towards improving liver cancer surveillance or liver cancer survival in the past decade. Participants stated that action to reduce liver cancer mortality is urgently needed, with considerable concern that many of the challenges faced today are the same as those faced a decade ago. Participants stressed that increasing liver cancer surveillance is a priority, and that simultaneously, we must support research that develops and validates better screening tests and strategies. Dr. Brian McMahon will be leading the development of a manuscript of the workshop proceedings for peer-review. Key Takeaways, Princeton Workshop 2022 Little progress has been made in the past decade towards improving liver cancer mortality rates. There is an urgent need to improve and systematize liver cancer surveillance and early detection among those at high-risk. We need to act swiftly to prioritize early detection to save lives. We cannot wait while incidence and mortality rates continue to rise each year. Stakeholders need to work together to generate a national sense of urgency that will lead to change in policy and practice to improve liver cancer surveillance. We should increase utilization of current screening tools while simultaneously developing better tests. Future research should focus on identification and validation of new biomarkers, and development of biorepositories to facilitate such research. We must raise provider and patient awareness about the risk of cancer, the need for surveillance and early detection, and the availability of effective, curative treatments. Patients and providers would benefit from development of a user-friendly liver cancer risk calculator. We should design and investigate approaches to motivate providers and patients and decrease barriers to liver cancer surveillance. 2022 Princeton Workshop Participants Front Row (L-R): Ying-Hsiu Su, Anna Suk-Fong Lok, Su Wang, Chari Cohen, Timothy Block, Dhruv Roy, JoAnn Rinaudo, Yasmin Ibrahim, Jake Liang, Elle Grevstad, Doan Dao, Catherine Freeland, Dianna Miller, Brian McMahon Back Row (L-R): Aejaz Sayeed, George Ioannou, Ray Kim, Lewis Roberts, Theodore Welling, Amit Singal, Kenneth Rothstein, Anand Mehta, Thomas Karasic, Jorge Marrero, George Rogge, Hashem El-Serag, Beatrice Zovich, Robert Gish Not Pictured: Robert Brown, William Grady, Josep Llovet, Edith Mitchell, Norah Terrault

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/princeton-workshop/princeton-workshop-2022/
  • Donate

    We believe that nobody should die from hepatitis B. Your gift will help the Hepatitis B Foundation fulfill its mission to find a cure and improve the lives of those affected worldwide through research, education, public health and patient advocacy. Make a difference and help us bring hope and save lives! The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. azdurudwtybfbzfwvfryydwwbbyuaawuyttctx Ways to Donate Make a one-time giftYour donation will support the valuable programs of the Hepatitis B Foundation. Become a Hepatitis B Champion with a monthly gift As a loyal donor, your monthly gift ensures that the Hepatitis B Foundation’s valuable programs are sustained.  Give through your Donor Advised Fund The Hepatitis B Foundation accepts gifts from Donor Advised Funds. Your DAF sponsor will need our tax ID number, which is 23-2655669, address, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown PA 18902, and contact information for a development staff member should they have any questions. The contact person is Jean Holmes, jean.holmes@hepb.org, 215-489-4946. It should also be noted that donors can now fulfill pledges from DAF accounts, as long as the sponsor does not refer to a pledge in their grant letter to us. DAFs may not be used to pay for tables or auction items at events.[embed_content, id="1"] Give Appreciated StockGiving appreciated stock is one of the most savvy and smart ways to give. Save on your taxes and make a larger gift than you’d be able to otherwise without having to change your portfolio. Click HERE for more information.                                                                                 Pledge Your Birthday!Want to do more to support the fight against hepatitis B? Pledge your birthday, and ask your friends and family for donations to HBF in lieu of gifts. Complete our pledge form, and when your birthday is near, we will send you a customized donation link to ask your friends to donate to help those affected by hepatitis B for your big day. Pledge your birthday today! Join the 1991 Legacy Society by including us in your will Planned giving is a great way to support the mission of the Hepatitis B Foundation. By including us in your will or trust, you can make a lasting gift to help us eradicate hepatitis B worldwide. Click here to learn more about joining the 1991 Legacy Society through planned giving. Ask if your employer has a matching gifts program Many corporations will match their employee gifts to charitable organizations, which then doubles or triples your personal gift to the Hepatitis B Foundation. Check with your employer’s human resources or community relations department to determine their procedure for matching your gift to the Hepatitis B Foundation. You can also check to see if your company does matching gifts HERE. Vehicle Donation Are you thinking of selling or trading in a vehicle? Donate it to the Hepatitis B Foundation instead. Turn your car, running or not, into a tax-deductible contribution and help find a cure and improve quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide. Donate your car. Shop Amazon Smile for a CauseIt only takes a few seconds to select the “Hepatitis B Foundation” as your charity of choice and a portion of your sales will be donated to us! Learn more about Amazon Smile.   You may also mail your donation payable to the Hepatitis B Foundation to our office:Hepatitis B Foundation 3805 Old Easton Road Doylestown PA 18902 U.S.A. Telephone: 215-489-4900 Email: info@hepb.org    

    https://www.hepb.org/donate/
  • Maureen K's Story

    When Maureen learned that her young daughter had hepatitis B, she knew she would need to fight for her daughter's health. What she did not anticipate was the reaction from family and others who learned of the diagnosis. In this video, Maureen talks about navigating issues of disclosure and stigma with her daughter.  

    https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/patient-story-telling-project/maureen-ks-story/
  • Online Support Groups

    Support Groups There are several good Internet Support Group Listservs dedicated to hepatitis B. These Lists provide emotional support and practical help for those living with hepatitis B. There are also organizations that can refer individuals to traditional ("land-based") support groups.   Internet Support Groups Hepatitis B Information and Support List (HB-L)This is a private online adult support group for hepatitis B. It is a well-supervised list with reliable information. All those affected by or concerned about hepatitis B are invited to participate. HBV Adoption Support List Adoptive or biological parents of children living with hepatitis B are invited to participate. This is a restricted list to protect the privacy of parents and children, and requires pre-approval by the list owners to join. PKIDs Email Support List Adoptive and biological parents of children living with chronic hepatitis B or C, and HIV are invited to participate. This is an unsupervised list sponsored by the national non-profit organization PKIDs.

    https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/online-support-groups/
  • Newly Diagnosed with Hepatitis B

    If you or someone you love have recently been diagnosed with hepatitis B, you are not alone. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 people worldwide will be infected with the hepatitis B virus in their life time. Receiving a diagnosis of hepatitis B can be confusing or overwhelming, and you may have questions or concerns. The Hepatitis B Foundation is here to help.   First Steps 1. Understand your diagnosis. Do you have an acute or chronic infection? When someone is first infected with hepatitis B, it is considered an acute infection. Most healthy adults who are acutely infected are able to get rid of the virus on their own. If you continue to test positive for hepatitis B after 6 months, it is considered a chronic infection. Knowing whether your hepatitis B is acute or chronic will help you and your doctor determine your next steps. If you are unsure of what your blood test results mean, you may find Understanding Your Blood Tests helpful. 2. Prevent the Spread to Others. Hepatitis B can be transmitted to others through blood and bodily fluids, but there is a safe and effective vaccine that can protect your loved ones from hepatitis B. You should also be aware of how to protect your loved ones to avoid passing the infection to family and household members and sexual partners. 3. Find a Physician. If you have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, it is important to find a doctor that has expertise in treating liver disease. We maintain a searchable physician directory database to help you find a liver specialist near you.  4. Educate Yourself. Get the facts about hepatitis B, including what it is, who gets it, and possible symptoms, starting with What is Hepatitis B.    How the Hepatitis B Foundation Can Help 1. Our Help lines are available to answer questions you may have about hepatitis B. Please note that our Help Lines are NOT a substitute for medical care.  2. Our Physician Directory can help you find a liver specialist near you. 3. Our Drug Watch lists approved medicines and promising new treatments for hepatitis B. 4. Our list of Clinical Trials for hepatitis B provides you an opportunity to volunteer to test promising new treatments. 5. Sign up for our free e-newsletter to get our monthly update on hepatitis B advocacy, research, and more.

    https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/newly-diagnosed/