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Management of Hepatitis B in Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID)

  • Hepatitis B (JK Lim, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Hepatitis B remains an infectious disease causing a significant number of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Notably, the management of hepatitis B in persons who inject drugs (PWID) is a crucial part for hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination. This narrative review summarizes the updated strategies of screening, prevention, and treatment for this special clinical setting.

Recent Findings

A PWID are associated with impaired immune responses and substantial vulnerability to parenteral HBV transmission with multiple co-infections, poor adherence, and social stigma. Multi-disciplinary support with integration of core strategies and healthcare systems provides better efficacy of prevention and treatment of HBV infection.

Summary

A Periodic monitoring, treating co-existing risk factors, promoting harm reduction services, specialized protocol for HBV vaccination, and remodeling of values and practices are important for HBV elimination in PWID as well as the general population. Global and nationwide policies should be made and implemented to achieve above goals.

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Funding

This paper was funded by the National Taiwan University Hospital (grant number 108-S254) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Executive Yuan, Taiwan (grant number 107–2314-B-002–036-MY3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shang-Chin Huang & Jia-Horng Kao

  2. Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

  3. Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

  4. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 1 Chang-Te St., Taipei, 10002, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

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  1. Shang-Chin Huang
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Huang, SC., Kao, JH. Management of Hepatitis B in Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID). Curr Hepatology Rep 20, 158–165 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-021-00574-w

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