CHRONIC HEPATITIS B

CHRONIC HEPATITIS B
A GUIDELINE TO DIAGNOSIS, APPROACH, MANAGEMENT, AND FOLLOW-UP 2007
TURKISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF LIVER
HEPATİT B’DE TANI, TEDAVİ VE TAKİP: 2007 YILI HEPATİT B KONSENSUS TOPLANTISI RAPORU

Prof. Dr. Ulus Salih AKARCA

The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology 2008,19 (4),207-230

Like in the rest of the world, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is also a major health problem in our country. Approximately 400 million are known to be chronically infected with HBV. About 3.5 millions have evidence of present or past infection (1). Chronically infected patients die of hepatic complications secondary to the disease in 15-40% of cases. The disease shall maintain its importance in future decades despite efficient vaccination (2). Beside its wide prevalence and association with serious morbidity and mortality, the problems encountered in the treatment also make this disease a major health problem. This report will review HBV virology; pathogenesis; route of transmission and epidemiology of the disease; preventive measures; diagnostic methods; screening programs; standard treatment modalities; treatment of special patient populations; and social problems; and offer recommendations in related topics.