WHO provides guidelines for treatment of hepatitis B

The “WHO guidelines for the prevention, care and treatment of persons living with chronic hepatitis B infection”  according to Dr. Stefan Wiktor, who leads WHO’s Global Hepatitis Programme gives treatment recommendations that rely on simple, inexpensive tests, and help clinicians make the right decisions.The new guidelines lay out a simplified approach to the care of […]

The “WHO guidelines for the prevention, care and treatment of persons living with chronic hepatitis B infection”  according to Dr. Stefan Wiktor, who leads WHO’s Global Hepatitis Programme gives treatment recommendations that rely on simple, inexpensive tests, and help clinicians make the right decisions.
The new guidelines lay out a simplified approach to the care of people living with chronic hepatitis B, particularly in places with limited resources.
The guidance covers the full spectrum of care from determining who needs treatment, to what medicines to use, and how to monitor people long-term.
Hepatitis B, according to WHO, is a viral infection which is spread through blood and body fluids, attacking the liver and resulting in an estimated 650, 000 deaths yearly.
The WHO says worldwide, some 240 million people have chronic hepatitis B virus with the highest rates of infection in Africa and Asia. People with chronic hepatitis B infection are at increased risk of dying from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
WHO added that effective medicines exist that can prevent people developing these conditions.
“But most people who need these medicines are unable to access them or can only obtain substandard treatment. One reason for this is the lack of clear evidence-based guidance for countries (especially low- and middle-income countries) as to who should be treated and what medicines to use,” the statement reads in part.
Among recommendations in the new guideline are the use of a few simple non-invasive tests to assess the stage of liver disease to help identify who needs treatment and prioritizing treatment for those with cirrhosis.
WHO also recommended the use of two safe and highly effective medicines, tenofovir or entecavir, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B; and regular monitoring using simple tests for early detection of liver cancer, to assess whether treatment is working, and if treatment can be stopped.
The new guidelines on treating hepatitis B follow on from the publication last year by WHO of its first ever guidelines on treating hepatitis C.