Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9268495 | Journal of Clinical Virology | 2005 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
Perinatal or early childhood transmission is predominant mode of infection in Australia. Two thirds of this cohort had active replication and were at increased risk of developing cirrhosis and/or hepatoma. Advanced disease was associated with age and ethnicity. HBeAg negative CHB accounts for almost half of all those with active viral replication. This parallels the rise in this form of CHB in Asia and the Mediterranean basin. Screening should be offered to people born in, or with parents born in areas of high endemnicity. To detect the development of active disease, patients with positive HBsAg but normal ALT should have liver function tests done 6 monthly and those with elevated ALT should be referred for consideration of therapy, irrespective of HBeAg status.
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Authors
S.J. Bell, A. Lau, A. Thompson, K.J.R. Watson, B. Demediuk, G. Shaw, R.Y. Chen, A. Ayres, L. Yuen, A. Bartholomeusz, S.A. Locarnini, P.V. Desmond,