Treatment of Hepatitis B in Resource-limited Settings - a Pilot Program in East Africa
Last updated on July 2021Recruitment
- Recruitment Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Estimated Enrollment
- 2000
Summary
- Conditions
- Hepatitis B
- Type
- Observational
- Design
- Observational Model: CohortTime Perspective: Prospective
Participation Requirements
- Age
- Between 18 years and 125 years
- Gender
- Both males and females
Description
Chronic viral hepatitis is a major health problem globally. Each year nearly one million deaths are attributable to either hepatitis B or C. In Ethiopia 5-10% of the general population are infected with hepatitis B. Oral antiviral treatment of hepatitis B exists, but high costs and advanced laborato...
Chronic viral hepatitis is a major health problem globally. Each year nearly one million deaths are attributable to either hepatitis B or C. In Ethiopia 5-10% of the general population are infected with hepatitis B. Oral antiviral treatment of hepatitis B exists, but high costs and advanced laboratory requirements have been barriers to offer such treatment in resource-limited settings, resembling the situation in treatment of HIV/AIDS a decade ago. The present study will investigate a simplified approach to hepatitis B treatment in resource-limited settings, inspired by the recent success of HIV treatment in such settings. The critical research question is how to identify patients with expected benefit of treatment in the absence of advanced laboratory support. A WHO expert panel recently suggested treatment criteria for use in settings without advanced laboratory facilities, but these criteria have not yet been tested out in real life. The present study will build on and develop the WHO approach to treatment of hepatitis B, aiming to develop a treatment protocol that can be feasible in other resource-limited countries. The potential public health benefit for poor people in low- and middle-income countries is substantial.
Tracking Information
- NCT #
- NCT02344498
- Collaborators
- Addis Ababa University
- The Research Council of Norway
- University of Agder
- South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Norway
- St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Ethiopia
- Haramaya University,Ethiopia
- Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Asgeir Johannessen, MD PhD Oslo University Hospital Principal Investigator: Nega Berhe, MD PhD Addis Abeba University