A comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis with a single test

A group of experts has agreed on a document with an algorithm for the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis from an analytical extraction. Additional recommendations are established for patients with this pathology

Early diagnosis of hepatitis is key to patient survival. EFE.

The Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD), the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH), the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and its Viral Hepatitis Study Group (GEHEP), with the endorsement of the Alliance for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis in Spain (AEHVE) have joined forces to achieve a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C and D), from a single analytical extraction.

This document, called “Recommendations for the comprehensive diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis in a single analytical extraction”, has the objective of facilitating the recognition of the disease and its treatment.

For this, the scientific committees establish an algorithm so that the positive result in antibodies against the hepatitis viruses (B, C and D) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activates the analysis of the rest of the virus from the same serological sample.

Operation of comprehensive diagnosis for viral hepatitis. Image courtesy of the AEEH.

Follow-up of the subsequent disease will be adapted to each patient and the characteristics of their condition.

The study includes two additional recommendations for patients. First, the need to rule out a previous infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). And then proceed with vaccination in cases where the antibodies against this virus are negative and where the vaccine is indicated.

Second, the practice of a serology of antibodies against HIV. Later, if the result is positive, epidemiological monitoring must be activated and the primary care physician or the requesting physician must be informed.

Likewise, guidelines for the diagnosis and general measures for patients with hepatitis B, C and D and patients with other chronic viral hepatitis are mentioned.

Advantages of the agreement

Experts agree that it is essential:

• The inclusion of results in the patient’s clinical history
• The integration of screening programs to detect the disease early
• The creation of prevention and awareness programs for professionals and citizens
• The implementation of an automated alert system for health personnel

Specialists believe that these measures will simplify the diagnostic cascade by limiting it to a single blood draw, reduce the number of visits to the medical center, faster diagnosis and access to more effective treatment.

A Scientific Committee has been involved in its preparation together with a Panel of Experts in gastroenterology and hepatology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, and microbiology.

A public health problem

Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver due to a virus (viral); drug, alcohol, or medication use, or a dysfunction of the immune system that causes the immune system to attack liver cells.

The diagnosis of this viral condition continues to be a challenge for public health because many people are unaware that they have the disease.

For this reason, the World Health Organization establishes as priorities to reduce new cases of infection by 90% and deaths by 65% ​​by 2030.

The documentreleased by the organizations that have promoted it, points out that the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single extraction linked to treatment is “vital” to achieve the objective set by the WHO.

RFE/RL’s comprehensive coverage of Russia’s aggression – USAGM

Ukraine: RFE/RL’s comprehensive coverage of Russia’s aggression

February 18, 2022

Washington, D.C. — With more than 150,000 Russian soldiers and sailors now surrounding Ukraine on three sides, and Belarusian and Russian forces carrying out large-scale military maneuvers less than 100 miles from Ukraine’s capital, the danger of full-scale war remains high. RFE/RL offers comprehensive around-the-clock reporting to audiences in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and in English to audiences around the world.

RFE/RL is uniquely positioned to cover and analyze events as they unfold, with four news services – its Ukrainian, Belarus, and Russian services and the Current Time digital network – fully focused on the crisis. As tensions mount, with a surge in shelling and leaders of the Kremlin-backed separatists that control parts of Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk announcing the evacuation of residents to the southeast of Russia, RFE/RL will be reporting from the line of contact in Donbas and from Russia’s Rostov region.

Stories to follow

• In a February 8 interview, leading Russian military expert Pavel Felgengauer observed that the military would be fully prepared for action that week, and the Kremlin’s decision to start an invasion would come in three days, on February 11 – which turned out to be the day that Western countries sounded the alarm to begin evacuations of diplomatic personnel.

• Reporters also traveled to Ukraine’s eastern border to meet with elite Ukrainian soldiers defending the line of contact and visit an isolated Ukrainian village on the border, as well as the city of Mariupol, 20 miles from the line of contact, to gauge the mood of locals about the threat of invasion.

Newsmaker and expert interviews

RFE/RL interviewed Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.K., Vadym Prystayko, who walked back controversial comments that Ukraine could give up its NATO ambitions, as well as Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons, who questioned whether Russia’s top officials entirely understand the costs of a potential military invasion, both in terms of loss of life and the economic consequences.

What’s Ahead: On February 19, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service will air an exclusive interview with Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces Serhiy Sobko. The Russian Service will publish an interview with the Hoover Institution’s Michael Bernstam on the potential for economic sanctions to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine as well as analysis of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Russia strategy. RFE/RL will also be providing in-depth live coverage of the Munich Security Conference.

RFE/RL’s News Services

RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, with a monthly average of over 8 million visits and 11 million page views to its websites as well as nearly 600 million video views on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram in 2021, sets a standard in the Ukrainian media market for independence, professionalism, and innovation. Its comprehensive coverage includes the award-winning reporting of its Donbas Realities and Crimea Realities websites and “Schemes” investigative reporting team.

Labeled an “extremist organization” by the Belarus government, RFE/RL’s Belarus Service provides independent news and analysis to Belarusian audiences in their own language, relying on social media platforms such as Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as mirror sites and an updated news app to circumvent pervasive Internet blockages and access disruptions.

RFE/RL’s Russian Service is a multiplatform alternative to Russian state-controlled media, providing audiences in the Russian Federation with informed and accurate news, analysis, and opinion. Despite being labeled by the Russian government as a “foreign agent,” The Russian Service’s websites, including its regional reporting units Siberia.Realities and Northern.Realities, earned a monthly average of 12.7 million visits and 20.6 million page views in 2021, while 297 million Russian Service videos were viewed on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Current Time is a 24/7 Russian-language digital and TV network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. In addition to reporting uncensored news, it is the largest provider of independent, Russian-language films to its audiences. Despite rising pressure on Current Time from the Russian government, which has labeled the network a media “foreign agent,” Current Time videos were viewed over 1.3 billion times on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram/IGTV in FY2021.

About RFE/RL

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach influential audiences in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through USAGM.