Expert Panel of Pediatric Liver Specialists Publishes Recommendations for Monitoring and Referral of Children with Chronic HBV
The Hepatitis B Foundation is pleased to announce the early online publication today in Pediatrics (see below) that is the result of the Pediatric HBV Workshop that was convened by the Foundation to establish recommendations for the care of children living with chronic hepatitis B. Please read our News Release for more information about this publication.
Published online October 5, 2009
PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0567)
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-0567v1
SPECIAL ARTICLES
Recommendations for Screening, Monitoring, and Referral of Pediatric Chronic Hepatitis B
Barbara A. Haber, MD, Joan M. Block, RN, BSN, Maureen M. Jonas, MD, Saul J. Karpen, MD, PhD, W. Thomas London, MD, Brian J. McMahon, MD, Karen F. Murray, MD, Michael R. Narkewicz, MD, Philip Rosenthal, MD and Kathleen B. Schwarz, MD
Most children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (persistent hepatitis B surface antigen-positive for >6 months)are asymptomatic and do not generally require treatment. These children are, however, at increased risk for severe complications later in life, including advanced liver disease and liver cancer. On November 11, 2008, the Hepatitis B Foundation, a nonprofit research and disease advocacy organization, convened a panel of nationally recognized North American pediatric liver specialists to consider and recommend an approach for the screening, monitoring, initial management, and referral of children with chronic hepatitis B. The panel developed recommendations to provide guidance to practitioners on determining what additional tests to conduct, how often to monitor on the basis of test results, and when to refer to a pediatric liver specialist to build a partnership between the practitioner and liver specialist to enhance the success of management of children with this lifelong infection.
About Hepatitis B Foundation
The Hepatitis B Foundation is the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to the global problem of hepatitis B.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide.
Our commitment includes funding focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public.
To learn more about Hepatitis B disease and treatment please visit the Hepatitis B Foundation website at www.hepb.org.
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