Abstract #38 Eligibility for and initiation of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Zambia: a prospective cohort study Michael J. Vinikoor, Edford Sinkala, Bright Nsokolo, Annie Kanunga, Mutinta Muchimba, and Paul Kelly Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA; University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia; Queen Mary University of London, London, UK; *Presenting author:
[email protected], +260974662483 Background Results: Baseline characteristics • After diagnosis, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)- Factor Median (IQR) or n (%) positive individuals must enroll in appropriate Median age (IQR) 33 (26-40) clinical care, be assessed for the need of antiviral Female sex 36 (27.7) therapy (AVT), and possible be re-assessed during longitudinal follow-up in order to access AVT Median ALT (IQR) 24 (17-35) • We characterized AVT eligibility at enrollment and ALT elevation 53 (41.7) during follow-up in a prospective cohort based at a APRI >2.0 6 (6.7) hospital in Zambia. Decompensated cirrhosis 9 (6.8) • We also described the percentage of those eligible HBV DNA >2,000 IU/ml 35 (31.8) who initiated AVT and some of the reasons for delays in initiation. Antiviral therapy criteria BL FU EASL Cirrhosis and detectable 15 4 Materials & Methods 2017 HBV DNA • At University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, a cohort ALT elevation and HBV 3 8 was established for adults (18+ years) who were DNA >2,000 HBsAg-positive and HIV-negative.