After Curing Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Pamela S. Belperio, Maggie Chartier, David B. Ross
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2018)

Letters1 May 2018After Curing Hepatitis C Virus InfectionPamela S. Belperio, PharmD, Maggie Chartier, PsyD, MPH, and David B. Ross, MD, PhD, MBIPamela S. Belperio, PharmDVA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California (P.S.B.)Search for more papers by this author, Maggie Chartier, PsyD, MPHSan Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California (M.C.)Search for more papers by this author, and David B. Ross, MD, PhD, MBIU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington DC (D.B.R.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L18-0014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Debes' comments are important and appreciated. Best practices in the care of patients with HCV infection should include an assessment of HBV vaccination and vaccination of those who do not express protective immune markers (that is, HBV surface antibody).Within the VA, doing so is a standard of care. Its national HBV immunization guidance aligns with that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which recommends that patients without immunity to HBV infection who have chronic liver disease or HIV infection receive the HBV vaccine (1, 2). In 2015, a total ...References1. Kim DK, Riley LE, Harriman KH, Hunter P, Bridges CB; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older, United States, 2017. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166:209-19. [PMID: 28166560]. doi:10.7326/M16-2936 LinkGoogle Scholar2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Screening for hepatitis B. May 2017. Accessed at www.prevention.va.gov/Healthy_Living/Get_Recommended_Screening_Tests_and_Immunizations_for_Men.asp on 27 March 2018. Google Scholar3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: treatment considerations. Updated 18 October 2017. Accessed at www.hepatitis.va.gov/provider/guidelines/hcv-treatment-considerations.asp on 18 November 2018. Google Scholar4. Belperio PS, Shahoumian TA, Mole LA, Backus LI. Evaluation of hepatitis B reactivation among 62,920 veterans treated with oral hepatitis C antivirals. Hepatology. 2017;66:27-36. [PMID: 28240789] doi:10.1002/hep.29135 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California (P.S.B.)San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California (M.C.)U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington DC (D.B.R.)Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M17-1073. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCuring Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Best Practices From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pamela S. Belperio , Maggie Chartier , David B. Ross , Poonam Alaigh , and David Shulkin After Curing Hepatitis C Virus Infection Jose D. Debes Metrics 1 May 2018Volume 168, Issue 9Page: 682-683KeywordsAntiviral therapyChronic liver diseaseHepatitis AImmunityInfectious hepatitisLiverLiver diseasesPatientsResearch laboratoriesVaccines ePublished: 1 May 2018 Issue Published: 1 May 2018 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2018 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...