This
report is the proceedings of a consensus conference on the management of
viral hepatitis sponsored by the Canadian Association for Study of the
Liver and Health Canada. This meeting was open to the public.Experts in
various aspects of viral hepatitis were asked to present a review the medical
literature on assigned topics. Three expert panels were convened, consisting
of the speakers and other invited experts from the fields of hepatology,
infectious disease, epidemiology, virology, medical microbiology and public
health. The expert panels debated assigned topics, which corresponded to
the reviews presented earlier.Audience participation was sought. Attempts
were made to reach consensus, on a number of recommendations about the
management of viral hepatitis. A “rapporteur” group then synthesized the
content of the literature reviews, and the debates and consensus statements
into a preliminary document. This was presented to the audience, and additional
comments sought to determine how well the document reflected the views
expressed in the earlier discussions. The draft document was amended as
necessary, and edited to produce this report. All participants were obliged
to publicly declare any potential conflicts of interest. The report gives
some background and offers recommendations aimed at both the general practitioner
and the specialist. The recommendations and other important statements
are highlighted in the text. The recommendations are also summarized at
the end of the document.
