WHO offers revised hepatitis B testing guidelines

The World Health Organization updated its guidelines for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis among patients with chronic hepatitis B infections.

The guidelines, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, proposed that clinicians lower the thresholds for two noninvasive tests to better detect early liver disease and determine when to initiate antiviral therapy. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, investigators examined the data of 211 studies involving more than 61,000 patients.

The WHO hopes its updated guidelines can improve the early diagnosis, treatment and mortality rate among this patient population — particularly among individuals residing in low- and middle-income countries.

Read more: The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology

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