Prevention: Vaccination and screening
A trivalent HBV vaccine is superior to monovalent vaccine, according to results from the double-blind, randomized, controlled, phase 3 PROTECT study presented here at the meeting (Abstract LP13). Known as Sci-B-Vac, the mammalian cell-derived trivalent vaccine had higher response rates versus the recombinant monovalent vaccine Engerix-B in difficult-to-vaccinate populations, according to Dr. Ghany.
A separate report based on a national health insurance cohort study in Korea demonstrated that regular follow-up, that is to say, every 3-6 months, significantly reduced liver cancer–related mortality (Abstract 0159). Patients compliant with screening in the study not only had a 44% reduction in risk of death from HCC, but also were more likely to receive curative treatments (23.1% versus 15.1%). “Notwithstanding the limitations or cohort studies, I think these data reinforce the need to screen patients with chronic hepatitis B,” Dr. Ghany said.
He provided no disclosures in his presentation.