Recommendations for screening, monitoring, and referral of pediatric chronic hepatitis B

Barbara A. Haber, Joan M. Block, Maureen M. Jonas, Saul J. Karpen, W. Thomas London, Brian J. McMahon, Karen F. Murray, Michael R. Narkewicz, Philip Rosenthal, Kathleen B. Schwarz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)e1007-e1013
JournalPediatrics
Volume124
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2009

Keywords

  • Chronic
  • Disease management
  • Hepatitis B
  • Liver
  • Pediatrics
  • Screening

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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