Hepatitis B, D and C

According to WHO there are about 300 million people living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 60 million with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide. These infections result in a high risk of livercirrhosis, liver cancer and death, therefore WHO has set a goal to eliminate HBV and HCV infections as global health threats until year 2030. The research group study chronic HBV-infection, co-infection HBV-HDV and chronic HCV-infection in different aspects. For example, we use national registers to study the risk and risk factors for cirrhosis, cancer and death. We also investigate the risk of serious complications, liver cancer and death in people with HBV infection by age and by country of origin, and in hepatitis C patients after treatment and cure. We will follow hepatitis epidemiology in Sweden and the progress towards the WHO elimination goal year 2030.

The group also perform other studies of chronic hepatits B, D and C, for example a study of risk factors and HCV prevalence in pregnant women and there partners, and a clinical study with long term follow-up of patients who had been treated and cured from HCV-infection. In other studies we have collaborated with virological laboratories for detection of occult HCV (Karolinska, Stockholm) and to study resistance associated variants of HCV (Uppsala). The group in Örebro works in close collaboration with Soo Alemans group at Karolinska Institutet.

Collaborators
MD, PhD Soo Aleman, Karolinska Institutet
MD, PhD Habiba Kamal, Karolinska Institutet
MD, PhD student Caroline Gahrton, Karolinska Institutet