“Hepatitis B virus never leaves patient’s liver – ever”: Dr. Girn

AFTER a patient diagnosed with Hepatitis B has gone through the sickness phase, been treated and cured, the story doesn’t end there. The patient will feel better after recovery and life gets back to normal, but the virus remains in the liver. It stays there permanently (and silently), and over the long term, this could lead to cirrhosis or even liver cancer.

- By FatHIMA RIZNAZ HAFI

This uncanny fact was shared by Asther Whitefield, Bangalore Hospital Hepato Pancreato Biliary and Multi Organ Transplantation Senior Consultant Dr. H.R.S. Girn, at a recent press meet in Colombo, facilitated by A Mart Holdings, the hospital’s official representative in Sri Lanka. Dr. Girn carries expertise in advanced hepatobiliary surgeries and multi-organ transplantations, with international experience, practicing in UK and India.

Followup vital

“When the virus remains in the liver for many years, gradual damage could take place in that organ, eventually resulting in cirrhosis in some patients and possibly liver cancer in some. This can be prevented if followup tests are done consistently from the onset of the disease. This is vital. The patient needs to get himself tested every year, to monitor the liver and keep the replication of the Hep B virus under control to avoid progressive damage of the liver,” Dr. Girn says.

“For Hep B and C, a viral PCR has to be done at least once a year. From the onset of that disease, patients need to get screened regularly, forever,” he added.

“And in the eventuality that damage is detected, the patient will be treated but we can never eliminate the virus — ever!”

This happens only with the Hep B and C virus. Hep A, E, and the other viruses leave the liver completely; hence, once the patient is cured, he remains virus-free and healthy. With Hepatitis A and E there is no permanent damage. 2-4% of the patients will move to liver failure but otherwise for the other patients there is no lasting sickness.

“For Hepatitis B we have a vaccine, so it is preventable. For Hepatitis C we don’t have a vaccine. While people who get Hepatitis B or C should be followed up, this is not necessary for Hepatitis A and E. Hepatitis B and C are the problem ~— due to the virus remaining there permanently,” he explained.

Blood tests not sufficient