'High-dose steroids a risk for hepatitis B patients'

The Coroner's Court on Thursday heard that high doses of steroids had increased the risk of a hepatitis B relapse in a liver disease patient who died following two organ transplants in 2017. Tang Kwai-sze had been taking the steroid prednisone for weeks before her operations at Queen Mary Hospital. Dr James Fung, a transplant hepatologist at the hospital, said a high dose of steroids would suppress a person's immune system, leading to viral replication and a higher chance of virus relapse. Fung added that prescribing antivirals to hepatitis B patients alongside a large dosage of steroids reduces the chance of relapse. At the hearing, Tang’s eldest daughter Michelle Wu questioned whether it was common knowledge among doctors that they should prescribe antiviral drugs for hepatitis B carriers on a high dosage of steroids. In response, Fung said doctors should know the risks of not prescribing the antiviral drugs, but it also depends on whether there were any instructions on site. Two doctors at United Christian Hospital who treated Tang, Lam Chi-kwan and Chan Siu-kim, were found guilty of professional misconduct for allegedly failing to prescribe an antiviral drug she needed. Lam earlier told the court that he didn't prescribe the drug because he was distracted by "phone ringing" and "people entering the consultation room" at the time. The hearing was set to continue on Monday.