Routine antenatal screening for hepatitis B in an urban NYC population

[Guest guest]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/ddw-ras050611.php

Public release date: 10-May-2011

[ Print | E-mail | Share ] [ Close Window ]

Contact: Amy Levey

alevey@...

312-791-6715

Digestive Disease Week

Routine antenatal screening for hepatitis B in an urban NYC population

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2011

According to new research at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, high rates

of chronic hepatitis B infection (HBV) are found in pregnant minority and

immigrant women in the New York City area, and most of them do not receive

education, appropriate follow-up testing or referral, which is considered the

standard of care for all persons newly identified as HBV carriers.

Results showed that while all but one infant was protected from infection in

this study, nearly 90 percent of the women — the majority of whom were immigrant

or non-English speaking — did not receive education about hepatitis, further

laboratory testing or subsequent care. The study also showed a surprisingly high

rate of chronic HBV across this population of women of child-bearing age. These

results are especially notable, said lead investigator Blaire E. Burman, MD, an

internal medicine resident at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, because

nearly 75 percent of those who screened positive were Hispanic, many from the

Dominican Republic, a population overrepresented in this population, but a group

not traditionally considered high risk for viral hepatitis.

The study also found that subpopulations of largely immigrant and underserved

patients are living with chronic HBV and are at serious risk for morbidity and

mortality. The study identified a population of young and vulnerable patients

living with a chronic disease that they know little about, and are unlikely to

receive the standard of care in terms of surveillance and treatment. Given the

lack of follow-up testing and imaging, it is unclear what percentage of these

infected women would qualify for and benefit from therapy.

Additionally, immigrant populations that are not listed as " high risk " under

current screening guidelines may in fact have high rates of chronic HBV

infection. It is imperative to identify carriers who do not have regular access

to medical care, not just young women, but the rest of their families.

" Prenatal screening is a golden opportunity to identify chronic hepatitis B

infection in young mothers at risk for life-threatening complications, including

liver failure and liver cancer, " Dr. Burman said. " We need to use prenatal

testing to engage patients with intervention and prevention of future morbidity

and mortality. "

Dr. Burman added that there is very little research in this area, and no

previous studies specifically looked at the follow-up of women who screened

positive for HBV during pregnancy, the subsequent care received and their

outcomes. She cautioned that this research applies only to the largely

underserved and immigrant population

who receive prenatal care at the two urban hospitals studied, and that it cannot

be applied to women with private insurance and established medical follow-up.

Dr. Burman will present these data on Tuesday, May 10 at 8:00 a.m. CT in Hall A,

McCormick Place.

###

Digestive Disease Week® 2011 (DDW®) is the largest international gathering of

physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology,

hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the AGA Institute, the

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of

the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 7 – May 10, 2011 in Chicago, IL. The

meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the

latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology.

[Guest guest]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/ddw-ras050611.php

Public release date: 10-May-2011

[ Print | E-mail | Share ] [ Close Window ]

Contact: Amy Levey

alevey@...

312-791-6715

Digestive Disease Week

Routine antenatal screening for hepatitis B in an urban NYC population

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2011

According to new research at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, high rates

of chronic hepatitis B infection (HBV) are found in pregnant minority and

immigrant women in the New York City area, and most of them do not receive

education, appropriate follow-up testing or referral, which is considered the

standard of care for all persons newly identified as HBV carriers.

Results showed that while all but one infant was protected from infection in

this study, nearly 90 percent of the women — the majority of whom were immigrant

or non-English speaking — did not receive education about hepatitis, further

laboratory testing or subsequent care. The study also showed a surprisingly high

rate of chronic HBV across this population of women of child-bearing age. These

results are especially notable, said lead investigator Blaire E. Burman, MD, an

internal medicine resident at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, because

nearly 75 percent of those who screened positive were Hispanic, many from the

Dominican Republic, a population overrepresented in this population, but a group

not traditionally considered high risk for viral hepatitis.

The study also found that subpopulations of largely immigrant and underserved

patients are living with chronic HBV and are at serious risk for morbidity and

mortality. The study identified a population of young and vulnerable patients

living with a chronic disease that they know little about, and are unlikely to

receive the standard of care in terms of surveillance and treatment. Given the

lack of follow-up testing and imaging, it is unclear what percentage of these

infected women would qualify for and benefit from therapy.

Additionally, immigrant populations that are not listed as " high risk " under

current screening guidelines may in fact have high rates of chronic HBV

infection. It is imperative to identify carriers who do not have regular access

to medical care, not just young women, but the rest of their families.

" Prenatal screening is a golden opportunity to identify chronic hepatitis B

infection in young mothers at risk for life-threatening complications, including

liver failure and liver cancer, " Dr. Burman said. " We need to use prenatal

testing to engage patients with intervention and prevention of future morbidity

and mortality. "

Dr. Burman added that there is very little research in this area, and no

previous studies specifically looked at the follow-up of women who screened

positive for HBV during pregnancy, the subsequent care received and their

outcomes. She cautioned that this research applies only to the largely

underserved and immigrant population

who receive prenatal care at the two urban hospitals studied, and that it cannot

be applied to women with private insurance and established medical follow-up.

Dr. Burman will present these data on Tuesday, May 10 at 8:00 a.m. CT in Hall A,

McCormick Place.

###

Digestive Disease Week® 2011 (DDW®) is the largest international gathering of

physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology,

hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the AGA Institute, the

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of

the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 7 – May 10, 2011 in Chicago, IL. The

meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the

latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology.