A majority of patients undergoing chemotherapy were not screened for
hepatitis B virus infection, according to data published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
In a retrospective study, researchers analyzed
electronic medical records from a pharmacy database of 8,005 patients
who were undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy to treat solid or hematologic
malignancies at the Mayo Clinic between January 2006 and September
2011.
“Only a small percentage of patients receiving
chemotherapy are screened for HBV infection. Strategies are needed to
ensure that patients receiving chemotherapy are protected from the
consequences of undiagnosed HBV infection,” the researchers wrote.
Wi C-I, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2014.10.032.
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