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Maepa MB, Ely A, Kramvis A, Bloom K, Naidoo K, Simani OE, Maponga TG, Arbuthnot P. Hepatitis B Virus Research in South Africa. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091939. [PMID: 36146747 PMCID: PMC9503375 DOI: 10.3390/v14091939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being vaccine-preventable, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the seventh leading cause of mortality in the world. In South Africa (SA), over 1.9 million people are chronically infected with HBV, and 70% of all Black chronic carriers are infected with HBV subgenotype A1. The virus remains a significant burden on public health in SA despite the introduction of an infant immunization program implemented in 1995 and the availability of effective treatment for chronic HBV infection. In addition, the high prevalence of HIV infection amplifies HBV replication, predisposes patients to chronicity, and complicates management of the infection. HBV research has made significant progress leading to better understanding of HBV epidemiology and management challenges in the SA context. This has led to recent revision of the national HBV infection management guidelines. Research on developing new vaccines and therapies is underway and progress has been made with designing potentially curative gene therapies against HBV. This review summarizes research carried out in SA on HBV molecular biology, epidemiology, treatment, and vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohube B. Maepa
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
- Correspondence:
| | - Abdullah Ely
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Hepatitis Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Kristie Bloom
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Kubendran Naidoo
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Omphile E. Simani
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Tongai G. Maponga
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7602, South Africa
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
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Zhang YT, Liu J, Pan XB, Gao YD, Hu YF, Lin L, Cheng HJ, Chen GY. Successful treatment of infantile hepatitis B with lamivudine: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:3442-3448. [PMID: 34002156 PMCID: PMC8107904 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i14.3442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND How to treat infantile hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a controversial issue. The nucleoside analogue lamivudine (LAM) has been approved to treat children (2 to 17 years old) with chronic hepatitis B. Here, we aimed to investigate the benefit of LAM treatment in infantile hepatitis B.
CASE SUMMARY A 4-mo-old infant born to a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive woman was found to be infected by HBV during a health checkup. Liver chemistry and HBV seromarker tests showed alanine aminotransferase of 106 U/L, HBsAg of 685.2 cut-off index, hepatitis B “e” antigen of 1454.0 cut-off index, and HBV DNA of > 1.0 × 109 IU/mL. LAM treatment (20 mg/d) was initiated, and after 19 mo, serum HBsAg was entirely cleared and hepatitis B surface antibody was present. The patient received LAM treatment for 2 years in total and has been followed for 3 years. During this period, serum hepatitis B surface antibody has been persistently positive, and serum HBV DNA was undetectable.
CONCLUSION Early treatment of infantile hepatitis B with LAM could be safe and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiao-Ben Pan
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yi-Dan Gao
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yin-Fei Hu
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Li Lin
- The Clinical Medical College, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hua-Jun Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yiwu Chouzhou Hospital, Jinhua 322000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Gong-Ying Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Clinical Medical College, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yiwu Chouzhou Hospital, Jinhua 322000, Zhejiang Province, China
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