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  • New clinical trial opportunity available for people living with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

    … (about 2 years). You will not know whether you are receiving DAP/TOM or placebo, and neither will the doctor (until after the study ends). You will have medical visits throughout the study, where the doctor will check on hepatitis B viral activity and your overall health.  You may be eligible to participate in the B-United study if you:  Are at least 18 years old (the minimum age may be higher in some countries);  Have had diagnosed chronic hepatitis B virus infection for at least 6 months;   Have been on stable NA treatment (sometimes referred to as antivirals, such as tenofovir or entecavir) for the past 6 months, without any changes for the past 3 months.  You will also need to meet additional requirements. The study doctor will review these with you.  The B-United study is being run in many countries, so there is an opportunity for people in many areas of the world to participate. To find out more information and see if you might be eligible, please visit www.BUnitedStudy.com. 

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/new-clinical-trial-opportunity-available-people-living-chronic-hepatitis-b-virus-infection/
  • I keep hearing about a “Functional Cure” for chronic hepatitis B, what does this mean?

    New drugs in the research pipeline show promise of what researchers call a “Functional Cure.” New drugs or a combination of drugs will result in the loss of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which means there is no detectable HBV DNA (complete virus) or surface antigen (HBsAg or viral proteins) in the blood. This can occur with or without development of surface antibodies against the hepatitis B virus (HBsAb+ or anti-HBs+). A “functional cure” does not eliminate the stable, replicative form of the DNA of the virus that hides and combines with the DNA of the liver cells (called cccDNA). However, it should maintain long term suppression of the virus and reduce the risk of liver cancer even when treatment is stopped. Most importantly, a “functional cure” means that the new drugs would be taken for a finite amount of time rather than many years. You can find more information about a functional cure for hepatitis B in this video. Find more Frequently Asked Questions here.    Page updated 12/27/2022

    https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/faqs/i-keep-hearing-about-a-functional-cure-for-chronic-hepatitis-b-what-does-this-mean/
  • Yuchen Xia, PhD

    Professor, Director, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University Dr. Yuchen Xia is professor at Wuhan University and principle investigator of State Key Laboratory of Virology, China. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology Technology from Wuhan University in 2005. He then received a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Science in 2008. After winning a Helmholtz scholarship, he spent six years in Munich, Germany. In 2013, with highest honor (summa cum laude), he earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the Technische Universität München. He then moved to the National Institutes of Health as a visiting research fellow. In 2018, he returned to Wuhan University as a professor. Dr. Xia’s work focuses on establishing hepatitis B virus experimental models, understanding cccDNA minichromosome and developing novel therapies. Read the journal picks of the month from our Emerging Scholars Scientific and Medical Advisory Board here.  

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/reports/emerging-scholars-scientific-and-medical-advisors/yuchen-xia-phd/
  • Jacki's Story

    When Jacki learned that his brother’s liver cancer was caused by hepatitis B, he got tested and found out he had the virus, too. Later, his wife also found out she has hepatitis B. When she got pregnant, they did their research and were able to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Jacki and his wife are taking medication to manage their hepatitis B and have started a Taiwanese hepatitis B patient group. Today, all of their kids are are hepatitis B free, and Jacki’s brother is cured of liver cancer!  Jacki's story is available in English and Mandarin.   English   Mandarin

    https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/patient-story-telling-project/jackis-story/
  • The Hepatitis B Foundation Participates in Liver Capitol Hill Day, 2013 - A Personal Reflection

    Yesterday the Hepatitis B Foundation participated in the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) annual “Liver Capitol Hill Day” visits. This is a great opportunity to get in front of state Senators and Congressmen in order to make requests known to them. It is also an opportunity to educate. As a constituent, your state representatives are interested in what you have to say. The “Asks” for the day were to support funding for liver related research, prevention strategies, and support of liver patient access to quality medical care.  Specifically, we were asking for NIH funding growth, rather than the 20% cut over the last decade, along with support of government agencies such as the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis, and the delivery of health care systems and payment policies for patients living with liver diseases.  Prevention is also critical with specific asks for new, one-time hepatitis C testing and screening for hepatitis B for at-risk patients. As we are all aware, budgets are tight and we will all soon feel the effects of the Sequester. Research programs may no longer be funded, or severely cut, public health agencies and programs will be cut, and patients who are currently receiving medical assistance will suffer. For treated patients with HBV, it is essential nothing interrupts the daily antiviral use, and of course HBV and liver cancer prevention through screening, vaccination and surveillance is both necessary and cost effective in the long run. Due to the Sequester, the day started in a panic for many Hill visitors. I was fortunate to arrive early – a good thing since I waited in a long security line for 45 minutes that wrapped around the building. As Maryland residents, Dave Li and I met with staff from both Senator Ben Cardin’s (D) and Senator Barbara Mikulski’s (D) offices.  Senator Mikulski was recently appointed the Chairperson of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. This means she will have a great deal of

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/the-hepatitis-b-foundation-participates-in-liver-capitol-hill-day-2013-a-personal-reflection/
  • HBsAg Levels Linked with Fibrosis in HBeAg-Positive Patients

    Below is a publication from “Healio Hepatology, February 21, 2013 – HbsAg Levels Linked with Fibrosis in HBeAg-Positive Patients” , showing the correlation between HBsAg and HBV DNV virus levels and the risk of moderate to severe fibrosis in HBeAg positive patients. Patients with hepatitis B who tested positive for hepatitis B e antigen were at increased risk for moderate-to-severe fibrosis with lower levels of hepatitis B surface antigen in a recent study. Researchers evaluated serum samples and liver biopsy results from 406 treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B. HBV genotype and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status were recorded along with levels of HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HBeAg-positive patients (n=101) had a higher mean fibrosis stage than HBeAg-negative patients (1.86 ± 1.18 vs. 1.40 ± 0.99; P<.001) and had greater levels of HBV DNA (7.06 ± 1.71 vs. 4.12 ± 1.67)and HBsAg (4.24 ± 0.9 vs. 3.53 ± 0.92) (P<.0001 for both). Investigators observed strong correlations between HBV DNA and HBsAg levels (r=0.44; P<.0001) and between fibrosis severity and HBsAg levels (r=0.43; P<.0001) among HBeAg-positive patients, but not among HBeAg-negative participants. HBeAg-positive patients with moderate-to-severe fibrosis had lower HBsAg (3.84 ± 1.01 vs. 4.63 ± 0.58; P<.0001)and HBV DNA levels (6.47 ± 1.81 vs. 7.62 ± 1.40; P<.001) than those with mild or no fibrosis. HBeAg-positive patients with genotypes B, D or E had significantly higher HBsAg levels than HBeAg-negative patients, along with higher HBV DNA levels regardless of genotype. Modeling analysis established an HBsAg cutoff of 3.85 log IU/mL-1 with a theoretical sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 86% and NPV of 100% for predicting moderate-to-severe fibrosis among HBeAg-positive patients with genotypes B or C. Investigators noted that the small cohort size used to establish this cutoff requires further validation to be clinically useful. “To our

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/hbsag-levels-linked-with-fibrosis-in-hbeag-positive-patients/
  • Reflection on 2012 Viral Hepatitis Policy Summit Meetings in D.C.

    L-R Daniel Raymond, NVHR Chair, Congressional Champion Staffers: Jirair Ratevosian (Congresswoman Barbara Lee), Philip Schmidt (Congressman Joe Serrano), Adrienne Hallett (Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Harkin) Earlier this week, I attended the 2012 Viral Hepatitis Policy Summit held in Washington D.C. The audience at the summit is viral hepatitis advocates for both hepatitis B and C. With the recent data on deaths from HCV surpassing those from HIV, and with an arsenal of new, effective drugs, HCV is clearly in the forefront of discussions at this time. Since my personal experience is HBVpatient oriented, I always struggle with keeping up with the details of the meetings, but I suspect most people reading this blog are in the same place, so I’ll try to make the take home message as simple as possible. The first day was held at NASTAD with visits from Dr. John Ward of the CDC, Division of Viral Hepatitis, and from Dr. Ron Valdiserri and Corinna Dan of the Health and Human Services (HSS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases.  Everyone is anxiously awaiting the release of the CDCs updated hepatitis C screening recommendations. They will be coming out later than expected, and that is unfortunate because it is hoped they will be released in time to help drive the guidelines written by (US Preventive Services  Task Force)USPSTF, which helps determine what procedures will ultimately be covered by Medicare (and paid for by private insurance  companies as well.) As of now, it doesn't look like the USPSTF guidelines will include HCV testing for high-risk individuals, so it is hoped that the CDC recommendations will counter these guidelines to help improve future HCV screening rates in the U.S. This potential time bomb was a source of conflict throughout the entire two days of the summit. The other hot button was the $10million that was allotted to the Division of Viral Hepatitis  to carry out all tasks viral hepatitis

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/2012-viral-hepatitis-policy-summit-meetings-in-d-c/
  • Jin's Story

    When she was very young, Jinqiu’s mother told her she has a germ and that she shouldn’t touch anyone if she was bleeding. Later, Jinqiu disclosed to her entire class that she has hepatitis B. Her mother visited Jinqiu’s school to make sure everyone was aware of what it meant, for a student to live with the virus. Today, Jinqiu feels that it’s her responsibility to disclose to new potential romantic partners that she is hepatitis B positive, and each time she does this, she gains new confidence and strength.  

    https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/patient-story-telling-project/jins-story/
  • Commonly Asked Questions

    Yes, the hepatitis B vaccine is very safe and effective. In fact, it is the first  “anti-cancer vaccine” because it can protect you from hepatitis B, which is the cause of 80% of all liver cancer in the world. It only takes 3 shots to protect yourself and those you love against hepatitis B for a lifetime. With more than one billion doses given throughout the world, medical and scientific studies have shown the hepatitis B vaccine to be one of the safest vaccines ever made. No. You cannot get hepatitis B from the vaccine because it does not contain any live virus or blood products. The vaccine is made from a synthetic yeast product in a laboratory. The most common side effects are redness and soreness in the arm where the shot is given. No, there is no need to restart the series. If the series is interrupted after the first dose, the second dose should be given as soon as possible, and the third dose at least 2 months after the second. If only the third dose is delayed, it should be given as soon as possible. If it has been years since you have been vaccinated, you  may need or may request an HBV surface antibody blood test to confirm that you are still protected. A person is considered protected if they have a positive anti-HBs or HBsAb test result greater than 10 mIU/mL. Sometimes these test results are under 10 and there is concern whether these low levels will still provide protection against HBV. Anti-HBs or HBsAb test results can decrease over time, but an individual can still be protected even if the test results are less than 10. If your test results are low, your doctor may recommend a booster shot or a repeat of the series. If you confirm you completed the vaccine series, you can get a booster dose of the vaccine. Your surface antibody level will be tested again 1 or 2 months after the booster. If the blood test result is greater than 10, then you are protected and will not require an additional booster shot in the future. (Ongoing studies show continued immunity for 30 years) If a booster shot does not result in a level greater than 10, then complete the remaining two-doses of the vaccine series and recheck the levels again after 1-2 months. Retain a copy of the titer test as proof of immunity. People who have a current infection or have recovered from a past infection receive no benefit from the HBV vaccine series, though there is no risk to receiving the vaccine series.  The United States Center for Disease Control maintains a database of locations that offer the hepatitis B vaccine. You can search for locations within the U.S. here: https://www.vaccines.gov/getting/where/index.html Vaccines are widely available in the U.S. at doctor's offices, community health centers, pharmacies, and other community locations. 

    https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/commonly-asked-questions/
  • Impressions of the Congressional Briefing and HHS Viral Hepatitis Action Plan Press Release

    Last Thursday, May 12th, I attended the Congressional Briefing, and the Press Conference releasing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Action Plan to Prevent, Care and Treat Viral Hepatitis, in Washington D.C..  The HHS Action Plan is in response to the 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on viral hepatitis. I have been involved with viral hepatitis, specifically hepatitis B, from a patient perspective for over a decade, but my recent involvement in the political arena is new.   So, I’m still struggling with the numerous acronyms, political calendars and jargon… It was encouraging to see members of Congress in attendance at the Congressional Briefing - hosted by U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), but it is clear that viral hepatitis needs more champions in Congress.  Congressional leaders who spoke included Rep. Honda (D-CA) , Rep. Cassidy (R-LA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Dr. Christensen (D-VI), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Rep. Dent (R-PA).  Federal public health leaders Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary of Health, and Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention of the CDC  spoke regarding the direction and implementation of the plan. Congressman Honda’s message was loud and clear to the audience:  “You need to be the megaphone.”  As advocates we need to educate and get our representatives on-board. The other, clear message is that the plan is a strategy with the tactics not yet clearly defined.  More importantly, there is no clear funding dedicated to the roll-out.  Rep. Bill Cassidy, a hepatologist, tells us we must be “fiscally responsible”, and yet he also said “Sometimes you have to increase the budget to reduce the deficit”.  Rep. Donna Christensen, also a doctor, states:  "We can save money and reduce the debt" with the viral hepatitis plan.  As a hepatologist and physician, these representatives understand that money

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/impressions-of-the-congressional-briefing-and-hhs-viral-hepatitis-action-plan-press-release/