Journal Article

Late presentation of chronic viral hepatitis for medical care: a consensus definition

Buti, Maria, Gore, Charles, Schatz, Eberhard, Lazarus, Jeffrey V., Mozalevskis, Antons, Mauss, Stefan, Lundgren, Jens, Pol, Stanislas, Raben, Dorthe, Rockstroh, Jürgen K., Duffell, Erika, der Grient, Hilje Logtenberg-van, Wiktor, Stefan

2017

Overview

Introduction We present two consensus definitions of advanced and late stage liver disease being used as epidemiological tools. These definitions can be applied to assess the morbidity caused by liver diseases in different health care systems. We focus is on hepatitis B and C virus infections, because effective and well tolerated treatments for both of these infections have greatly improved our ability to successfully treat and prevent advanced and late stage disease, especially if diagnosed early. A consensus definition of late presentation with viral hepatitis is important to create a homogenous, easy-to-use reference for public health authorities in Europe and elsewhere to better assess the clinical situation on a population basis. Methods A working group including viral hepatitis experts from the European Association for the Study of the Liver, experts from the HIV in Europe Initiative, and relevant stakeholders including patient advocacy groups, health policy-makers, international health organisations and surveillance experts, met in 2014 and 2015 to develop a draft consensus definition of late presentation with viral hepatitis for medical care. This was refined through subsequent consultations among the group. Results Two definitions were agreed upon. Presentation with advanced liver disease caused by chronic viral hepatitis for medical care is defined as a patient with chronic hepatitis B and C and significant fibrosis (≥ F3 assessed by either APRI score > 1.5, FIB-4 > 3.25, Fibrotest > 0.59 or alternatively transient elastography (FibroScan) > 9.5 kPa or liver biopsy ≥ METAVIR stage F3) with no previous antiviral treatment. Late stage liver disease caused by chronic viral hepatitis is clinically defined by the presence of decompensated cirrhosis (at least one symptom of the following: jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, clinically detectable ascites, variceal bleeding) and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion These consensus definitions will help to improve epidemiological understanding of viral hepatitis and possibly other liver diseases, as well as testing policies and strategies.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Antigens / Antiviral drugs / Ascites / Biomedicine / Biopsy / Bleeding / Cirrhosis / Collaboration / Consensus / Correspondence / Epidemiology / Europe / Female / Fibrosis / Gastroenterology / Health care / Health policy / Health services / Hepatic encephalopathy / Hepatitis / Hepatitis B / Hepatitis B, Chronic - diagnosis / Hepatitis C, Chronic - diagnosis / Hepatocellular carcinoma / HIV / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Infections / Interferon / Jaundice / Late presentation / Liver / Liver cancer / Liver cirrhosis / Liver Cirrhosis - diagnosis / Liver Cirrhosis - virology / Liver diseases / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / Morbidity / Patients / Public health / Surveillance / Testing / Time Factors / Viral hepatitis / Viruses / Working groups