Infection with hepatitis B-Tenofovir disoproxil

 Infection with hepatitis B

Indications for the use of tenofovir disoproxil 245 mg film-coated tablets for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adolescents aged 12 to 18 include:

Compensated liver disease and indications of an immunological disease, such as consistently increased blood ALT levels and active viral replication, or histology indications of moderate to severe inflammation and/or fibrosis. Regarding the choice to begin therapy with pediatric patients...

Adults with the following conditions may benefit from tenofovir disoproxil 245 mg film-coated tablets for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B:

-Compensated liver disease with histological evidence of ongoing inflammation and/or fibrosis, evidence of active viral replication, and consistently increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels

-indications of the hepatitis B virus being lamivudine-resistant

-liver disease with decompensation.

Tags:hepatitis B,tenofovir disoproxil,hepatitis virus,ALT,liver,

Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer

Chronic hepatitis B infections cause 80% of all primary liver cancer worldwide.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B infections are at increased risk for progressing to liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whether they develop cirrhosis or not.

In the U.S. the overall incidence of cancer is decreasing, except for primary liver cancer (as reported by the National Cancer Institute in 2005). 

This is due in large part to the increased number of Americans who are chronically infected with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Although survival rates for most types of common cancers have improved over the years, the 5-year survival rate for liver cancer is still below 10%.

In the world, primary liver cancer is the 3^rd leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization, at least 550,000 people die each year from primary liver cancer.

The hepatitis B vaccine was named the first "Anti-Cancer Vaccine" vaccine by the U.S. Food and Dug Administration since it prevents hepatitis B infections, the leading cause of primary liver cancer.

Early diagnosis of small tumors is the only effective way of improving the outcome of liver cancer treatment, and that is only possible through screening of the high-risk population. Universal hepatitis B vaccination is ultimately the only hope for reducing the incidence of this frequently fatal cancer worldwide.

tags:Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer,The hepatitis B vaccine,chronic hepatitis B inections,

What is hepatitis B? II

Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV can cause:

Acute (short-term) illness. This can lead to:

• loss of appetite
• tiredness
• pain in muscles, joints, and stomach
• diarrhea and vomiting
• jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)

Chronic (long-term) infection. Some people go on to develop chronic HBV infection. This can be very serious, and often leads to:

• liver damage (cirrhosis)
• liver cancer
• death

Chronic infection is more common among infants and children than among adults. People who are infected can spread HBV to others, even if they don't appear sick.

• In 2005, about 51,000 people became infected with hepatitis B.
• About 1.25 million people in the United States have chronic HBV infection.
• Each year about 3,000 to 5,000 people die from cirrhosis or liver cancer caused by HBV.

Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. A person can become infected by:

• contact with a mother's blood and body fluids at the time of birth;
• contact with blood and body fluids through breaks in the skin such as bites, cuts, or sores;
• contact with objects that could have blood or body fluids on them such as toothbrushes or razors;
• having unprotected sex with an infected person;
• sharing needles when injecting drugs;
• being stuck with a used needle on the job.

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