Hep B reactivation common during direct-acting antiviral therapy for hep C

Reuters Health

Hep B reactivation common during direct-acting antiviral therapy for hep C

Last Updated: 2018-02-02
By Will Boggs MD
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is common in patients with chronic HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection receiving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.

"It is important to identify patients at risk of HBV reactivation," said Dr. Johannes Vermehren from University Hospital Frankfurt, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

"HBsAg-positive patients who also have detectable HBV DNA should be closely monitored when treated for hepatitis C with direct antivirals. Alternatively, (nucleoside/nucleotide) prophylaxis may be justified in these patients," he told Reuters Health by email.

Continue reading article: http://www.chronicliverdisease.org/reuters/article.cfm?article=20180202Scie222294352