Reader Comments

Post a new comment on this article

Position of the Brazilian Society of Hepathology on our paper

Posted by paolozanotto on 01 Jul 2010 at 22:33 GMT

This was published on the Folha de São Paulo as a consequence of the media coverage on the paper

http://www1.folha.uol.com...

Hepatitis

The report "Hepatitis C is linked to number of partners" big questions generated by patients and relatives.
The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) states:
1) Hepatitis C can not be considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in light of current scientific knowledge.
2) Several studies published in medical journals of recognized scientific rigor not confirm sexual transmission of hepatitis C as an important factor.
3) The works that deal with this issue may have confounding factors which impact the clarity of the findings.
4) So far, European and American Societies for the Study of Liver Disease and the SBH, do not recognize hepatitis C and STDs.
5) Safe sex should be practiced by everyone, regardless of suspicion of the partner or not to have hepatitis C, especially between partners is not fixed.

Competing interests declared: I am the corresponding author of the publication and will be posting the positions against and in favor of your paper.

Position of the Brazilian Society of Hepathology on our paper (complete version)

paolozanotto replied to paolozanotto on 02 Jul 2010 at 16:20 GMT

http://www1.folha.uol.com...

Hepatitis

The report "Hepatitis C is linked to number of partners" big questions generated by patients and relatives.
The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) states:
1) Hepatitis C can not be considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in light of current scientific knowledge.
2) Several studies published in medical journals of recognized scientific rigor not confirm sexual transmission of hepatitis C as an important factor.
3) The works that deal with this issue may have confounding factors which impact the clarity of the findings.
4) So far, European and American Societies for the Study of Liver Disease and the SBH, do not recognize hepatitis C and STDs.
5) Safe sex should be practiced by everyone, regardless of suspicion of the partner or not to have hepatitis C, especially between partners is not fixed.

RAYMUNDO PARANA, president of SBH (São Paulo, SP)

Competing interests declared: I meant to say before, that I will be posting the positions against and in favor of our paper.