Cancer, rheumatism drugs tied to hep B deaths

[Guest guest]

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110908004789.htm

Cancer, rheumatism drugs tied to hep B deaths

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A number of people who had recovered from past hepatitis B infections died due

to a sudden and acute reactivation of the virus in their bodies after taking

newly introduced drugs to treat such conditions as rheumatism and blood cancer,

according to health ministry research.

The people who died from fulminant hepatitis had weakened immune systems as a

result of using new drugs to treat other conditions, according to a research

team at the ministry and other sources.

A number of new, highly immunosuppressive drugs have proved effective in curing

certain conditions, but it now has been learned that the drugs might trigger

sudden, powerful recurrences of hepatitis.

Experts are calling for improved screening systems to be established to prevent

patients developing fulminant hepatitis.

About 20 percent of people aged 50 or older have been infected with the

hepatitis B virus. It is believed there are more than 10 million such people in

the nation. Of them, 1 million to 1.3 million are said to be chronic sufferers,

in whom the virus antigen can be detected.

Many people are not aware they have been infected with the virus, as the

infection can be spontaneously cured. However, even after people recover from

the infection, the virus genes remain in their bodies.

The research team at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, led by Saitama

Medical University Prof. Satoshi Mochida, conducted a survey from fiscal 2010 at

about 100 facilities nationwide on 235 patients who have been infected with the

virus.

The team found that 14 of the patients, or 6 percent, suffered a recurrence of

hepatitis while being treated for rheumatism, blood cancer or other conditions.

An earlier nationwide survey on fulminant hepatitis conducted by the research

team found that 17 patients who had been infected with hepatitis B suffered a

sudden reactivation of the virus after undergoing treatment for such conditions

as malignant lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer from 2004 through 2009.

Separately, it has been reported that a woman in her 70s who had been infected

with the virus developed fulminant hepatitis after being treated for rheumatism

in 2009 in Hyogo Prefecture.

The woman and the 17 patients from the ministry survey died as a result of the

fulminant hepatitis.

In the survey conducted from fiscal 2010, the ministry research team collected

data on patients who had experienced a reactivation of the hepatitis B virus.

Mochida said, " Patients whose virus reactivation was detected at early stages

and received treatment [with antiviral drugs] have so far all been prevented

from developing severe hepatitis.

" There is an urgent need to establish check systems [for hepatitis B

reactivation], " he said.

Officials of the Japan College of Rheumatology said they would issue an advisory

to doctors specializing in rheumatology across the nation.

(Sep. 9, 2011)

[Guest guest]

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110908004789.htm

Cancer, rheumatism drugs tied to hep B deaths

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A number of people who had recovered from past hepatitis B infections died due

to a sudden and acute reactivation of the virus in their bodies after taking

newly introduced drugs to treat such conditions as rheumatism and blood cancer,

according to health ministry research.

The people who died from fulminant hepatitis had weakened immune systems as a

result of using new drugs to treat other conditions, according to a research

team at the ministry and other sources.

A number of new, highly immunosuppressive drugs have proved effective in curing

certain conditions, but it now has been learned that the drugs might trigger

sudden, powerful recurrences of hepatitis.

Experts are calling for improved screening systems to be established to prevent

patients developing fulminant hepatitis.

About 20 percent of people aged 50 or older have been infected with the

hepatitis B virus. It is believed there are more than 10 million such people in

the nation. Of them, 1 million to 1.3 million are said to be chronic sufferers,

in whom the virus antigen can be detected.

Many people are not aware they have been infected with the virus, as the

infection can be spontaneously cured. However, even after people recover from

the infection, the virus genes remain in their bodies.

The research team at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, led by Saitama

Medical University Prof. Satoshi Mochida, conducted a survey from fiscal 2010 at

about 100 facilities nationwide on 235 patients who have been infected with the

virus.

The team found that 14 of the patients, or 6 percent, suffered a recurrence of

hepatitis while being treated for rheumatism, blood cancer or other conditions.

An earlier nationwide survey on fulminant hepatitis conducted by the research

team found that 17 patients who had been infected with hepatitis B suffered a

sudden reactivation of the virus after undergoing treatment for such conditions

as malignant lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer from 2004 through 2009.

Separately, it has been reported that a woman in her 70s who had been infected

with the virus developed fulminant hepatitis after being treated for rheumatism

in 2009 in Hyogo Prefecture.

The woman and the 17 patients from the ministry survey died as a result of the

fulminant hepatitis.

In the survey conducted from fiscal 2010, the ministry research team collected

data on patients who had experienced a reactivation of the hepatitis B virus.

Mochida said, " Patients whose virus reactivation was detected at early stages

and received treatment [with antiviral drugs] have so far all been prevented

from developing severe hepatitis.

" There is an urgent need to establish check systems [for hepatitis B

reactivation], " he said.

Officials of the Japan College of Rheumatology said they would issue an advisory

to doctors specializing in rheumatology across the nation.

(Sep. 9, 2011)