Shillong, September 10: A recent study recommends hepatitis C patients to consider re-vaccination against the hepatitis B virus, following previous research that indicated a low response among hepatitis C patients.
As per IANS, Hepatitis C is caused by a blood-borne virus that results in liver inflammation. Currently, there is no effective vaccine for hepatitis C. Globally, approximately 58 million people are affected by hepatitis C, with 1.5 million new infections reported each year. On the other hand, hepatitis B is a liver infection that can be prevented with the HBV vaccine.
The new study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, involved 34 patients who had previously shown a poor response to the HBV vaccine. These patients were tested for hepatitis B surface antibodies. The results revealed that after receiving treatment for hepatitis C, re-vaccination against hepatitis B in this group led to an improved response.
Jose Debes, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, emphasized the broad implications of this study for public health in individuals with hepatitis infections. It is known that the hepatitis B vaccine is less effective in those with hepatitis C. However, what was previously unknown is that after treating hepatitis C, the hepatitis B vaccine appears to be more effective in this population. This is crucial because many individuals in this group remain at risk of hepatitis B infection.
Furthermore, individuals who have both hepatitis B and hepatitis C face an elevated risk of severe complications such as liver cirrhosis or cancer. The study suggests that hepatitis C patients should assess their hepatitis B immune protection. If it is lacking, they should be offered a hepatitis B vaccine after completing treatment for hepatitis C. The researchers also propose further research in a larger cohort to determine the optimal timing for re-vaccination and to gain a deeper understanding of the immune pathways involved in this change of response.