What is the level of scientific evidence on Delta hepatitis in Brazil?

By Marcelo Siqueira de Oliveira, Assistant professor, Federal University of Acre, Centro Multidisciplinar, Cruzeiro do Sul, AC, Brazil

Researchers from the São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) and Acre Federal University (UFAC) conducted research to identify scientific production on hepatitis Delta in Brazil. The results revealed a scientific production of over thirty years (1987-2017), centered mostly on observational studies that, although important for the definition of the epidemiological profile and health indicators, are considered of low scientific evidence regarding innovation in evidence-based health practices.

The article “Scientific Evidence on Hepatitis Delta in Brazil: An Integrative Review of the Literature” was published in the journal Acta Paulista de Enfermagem in 2017 (OLIVEIRA et al., 2017). It presents a snapshot of the directions of scientific production on hepatitis Delta in Brazil and is useful in guiding researchers carrying out new studies, considering objectives and methods that aim to produce effective changes in care practices for patient benefit.

Infection by the hepatitis Delta virus occurs exclusively in patients previously infected with the hepatitis B virus. In Brazil, the disease displays high endemicity rates in the Amazon region, with frequent reports of deaths from fulminant hepatitis (CICERO, et al., 2016). The condition is also related to severe outcomes of chronic liver disease, such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (ALFAIATE; DÉNY; DURANTEL, 2015).

In Brazil, assistance to infected patients follows a Ministry of Health protocol, based on international consensus. However, treatment options are scarce, with therapeutic interventions focusing on a limited combination of antiviral drugs and liver transplantation (BRASIL, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, 2016), requiring continuous efforts by the scientific community to formulate new alternatives.

References

ALFAIATE, D., DÉNY, P. and DURANTEL, D. Hepatitis delta virus: From biological and medical aspects to current and investigational therapeutic options. Antiviral Research [online]. 2015, vol. 122, pp. 112-129, ISSN: 0166-3542 [viewed 09 February 2018]. DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2015.08.009. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26275800

BRASIL. MINISTÉRIO DA SÁUDE. Protocolo clínico e diretrizes terapêuticas para Hepatite B e coinfecções. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde, 2016. [viewed 09 February 2018]. Available from: http://www.aids.gov.br/tags/publicacoes/protocolo-clinico-e-diretrizes-terapeuticas

CICERO, M.F., et al. Is Hepatitis Delta infections important in Brazil? BMC Infectious Diseases [online]. 2016, vol. 16, no. 1, ISSN: 1471-2334 [viewed 09 February 2018]. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1856-9. Available from: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-016-1856-9

To read the article, access it:

OLIVEIRA, M.S., et al. Scientific evidence on hepatitis Delta in Brazil: integrative literature review. Acta paul. enferm. [online]. 2017, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 658-666, ISSN: 1982-0194 [viewed 09 February 2018]. DOI: 10.1590/1982-0194201700091. Available from: http://ref.scielo.org/pkdb36