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Article in English

Hepatitis B Update (reflection)

ReFlections Vol 44, May 4, 2018. RGA (Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated^®)

Author : Akhilesh Pandey Senior Underwriter, Research and Manual Development. RGA India.

Abstract :

Hepatitis B is one of the world’s most prevalent infectious diseases today. The disease has been recognized for millennia, but the first actual breakthrough in understanding its etiology came more than 50 years ago, when it was discovered that the serum protein Australia Antigen (first discovered in Australian Aborigines) was in fact the surface antigen (HBsAg) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This discovery enabled the development of a successful hepatitis B vaccine in 1981.¹

Key facts

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.
The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
An estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B virus infection (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen positive).
In 2015, hepatitis B resulted in 887 000 deaths, mostly from complications (including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma).
Hepatitis B is an important occupational hazard for health workers.
However, it can be prevented by currently available safe and effective vaccine.

Overview of hepatitis B virus mutations and their implications in the management of infection (Patrizia Caligiuri, Rita Cerruti, Giancarlo Icardi, Bianca Bruzzone)

World J Gastroenterol 2016 January 7; 22(1): 145-154.

Patrizia Caligiuri, Giancarlo Icardi, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Rita Cerruti, Giancarlo Icardi, Bianca Bruzzone, Hygiene Unit, I.R.C.C.S. A.O.U. San Martino-IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy

Author contributions: Caligiuri P, Cerruti R, Icardi G and Bruzzone B analyzed the literature and wrote this review.

Conflict-of-interest statement :The authors have no conflict of interest regarding this review.