Hepatitis B treatment eligibility in West Africa: Uncertainties and need for prospective cohort studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

While universal screening of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in high burden countries, little is known about the proportion of HBV-infected persons in need of antiviral therapy in these settings.

Methods

Prisoners in Senegal and Togo as well as female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Cote d'Ivoire were screened for HBV infection. All HBsAg-positive participants underwent transient elastography, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV viral load (VL) quantification. Individuals with cirrhosis or those aged >30 years with an HBV replication ≥20 000 IU/mL and elevated ALT were considered eligible for antiviral therapy.

Results

Of 1256 participants, 110 (8.8%) were HBsAg positive; their median age was 30 years [interquartile range: 25-3

SUBMITTER: Jaquet A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5524454 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature