The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.25 million Americans are infected with HBV, although the actual number may be greater as it is believed that only one of every three cases of HBV is diagnosed. Among patients with HBV, only about one third receive appropriate treatment; this underscores the need for education. During an update/planning teleconference of the ACT-HBV (Advancing the Clinical Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus) Expert Council held on August 4, 2006 it was agreed that there is a need to educate primary care physicians and other health care professionals on how to identify individuals at risk for HBV infection and that guidelines for the prevention and management of HBV needed to be updated. Specifically the panel indicated a need to educate physicians on strategies to optimize response to antiviral therapy through “real life” case studies of patients with various forms and clinical manifestations of HBV infection.

Hepatologists, gastroenterologists, infectious diseases specialists, and primary care physicians who manage patients with HBV.

There are no prerequisites to participate in this program.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

	Describe current recommendations for the prevention and treatment of patients with hepatitis B
	Define strategies to optimize response to antiviral therapy
	Apply these recommendations to the hypothetical management of “real life” scenarios of patients with various forms and clinical manifestations of HBV infection

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and MDG Development Group, LLC gratefully acknowledge the independent educational grant provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Gilead Sciences.

As a sponsor accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health to require the disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or sponsor has with either the commercial supporter(s) of this activity or the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation. The faculty reported the following:

Notice: The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health advises the participant that one or more presentations in this continuing medical education activity does contain reference(s) to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices.