The three major liver disease organizations – the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the Asian-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) have each developed Practice Guidelines (AASLD) or issued Consensus Statements (APASL and EASL) regarding the management of chronic hepatitis B. Additionally, a Panel on Clinical Practices for Treatment of HIV Infection was convened by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in HIV-1-infected adults and adolescents, developed by the Panel, were issued on October 29, 2004 and include recommendations for the treatment of hepatitis B/HIV co-infected patients. Finally, a Consensus Statement from the First European Consensus Conference on the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B and C in HIV Co-Infected Patients was released in 2005. Below please find a brief description of the Practice Guideline and Consensus Statements, as well as links to PDF files of the published recommendations.
AASLD Practice Guideline -- Chronic Hepatitis B
The AASLD Practice Guidelines were developed by Anna S. F. Lok, MD and Brian J. McMahon, MD, in collaboration with the AASLD Practice Guidelines Committee, comprised of 27 experts in the areas of hepatology and hepatitis B. The Practice Guidelines were approved by and represent the position of the AASLD. The original guidelines were published in Hepatology 2001;34:1225-41. They have since been updated in 2003 and again in 2007, Hepatology 2007; 45(2):507-39. A complete version of the 2007 update can be found at the AASLD web site at www.aasld.org or by clicking on the below link.
AASLD Practice Guideline 
Asian-Pacific Consensus Statement on the Management of Chronic Hepatitis B: A 2005 Update
The Asian-Pacific Consensus Statement was developed by a group of 24 experts in hepatitis B from across the Asia-Pacific Region, under the auspices of the APASL. The original consensus statement was published in J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2003;18:239-45, and this 2005 update reflects new clinical data on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Click the link below to read the abstract of the full 2005 update (Liaw Y-F, Leung N, Guan R, Lau GKK, Merican I, McCaughan G, Gane E, Kao J-H, and Omata M for the Asian-Pacific Consensus Update Working Party on Chronic Hepatitis B. Asian-Pacific Consensus Statement on the Management of Chronic Hepatitis B: a 2005 Update. Liver Int 2005;25:472-89.).
Asian Pacific Consensus Statement
EASL International Consensus Conference on Hepatitis B
The EASL International Consensus Conference on Hepatitis B, held in September, 2002, brought together international experts in the field of hepatitis B to discuss the virology, epidemiology, natural history, prevention and treatment of hepatitis B. The EASL Jury was then charged with weighing the scientific evidence and preparing a consensus statement addressing 8 key questions of relevance to the management of chronic hepatitis B. The consensus statement was published in 2003 in Journal of Hepatology. The PDF file below contains the full consensus statement from the 2002 consensus conference (The EASL Jury. EASL International Consensus Conference on Hepatitis B. J Hepatol 2003;39:S3-S25.).
EASL International Consensus Conference
DHHS Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
The US Department of Health and Human Services convened an expert Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents – A Working Group of the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council (OARAC) for the purpose of rewriting and updating the existing guidelines. Of relevance to hepatitis B the revised document includes updates on consideration of treatment of HBV-HIV coinfected persons. The document was issued on May 4, 2006 and is accessible at http://AIDSinfo.nih.gov. The PDF file below contains the full Guidelines as issued on May 4, 2006.
Health and Human services Guidelines
Short Statement of the First European Consensus Conference on the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B and C in HIV Co-Infected Patients
The First European Consensus Conference, held in 2004, was organized to review current clinical information on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C in HIV co-infected patients, with the goal of developing a consensus statement to guide clinicians. The conference brought together experts in hepatitis B and C and HIV co-infection to discuss epidemiology, prevention, screening, and treatment. The ECC Jury was then charged with weighing the scientific evidence and preparing a consensus statement addressing 8 key questions of relevance to the management of chronic hepatitis B or C and HIV co-infection. The consensus statement was published in 2005 in Journal of Hepatology. The PDF file below contains the full consensus statement from the 2004 consensus conference (The ECC Jury. Short Statement of the First European Consensus Conference on the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B and C in HIV Co-Infected Patients. J Hepatol 2005;42:615-24.).
First European Coinfection Consensus Conference
A Comprehensive Immunization Strategy
to Eliminate Transmission of Hepatitis B
Virus Infection in the United States
Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its liver-related sequelae, including cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) published recommendations for immunization of infants, children, and adolescents. (CDC. A comprehensive immunization strategy to eliminate transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. Part 1: Immunization of infants, children, and adolescents. MMWR. 2005;54[No. RR-16]:1--33). More recently, the ACIP has updated its previous recommendations for the vaccination of adults in response to the high incidence of acute HBV infection among adults, particularly those with behavioral risks for HBV transmission (e.g., heterosexuals with multiple sex partners, injection-drug users [IDUs], and men who have sex with men [MSM]) and among household contacts and sex partners of persons with chronic HBV infection. In the second of the two-part statement, the ACIP recommends universal vaccination for all unvaccinated adults with behavioral risks for HBV transmission and for individuals in settings in which a high proportion of adults have risks for HBV infection (e.g., HIV testing and treatment facilities, drug abuse treatment and prevention settings, and correctional facilities).
Recommendations of the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
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