J Viral Hepat. 2012 Jan;19(1):9-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2011.01511.x. Epub 2011 Sep 13.
Experts from seven countries convened as a Specialist Panel for the Middle East to share information on practical issues relating to the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. The Middle East is regarded as a region of high-to-intermediate epidemicity; however, infant vaccination programmes have successfully lowered the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in most countries to that of low-to-intermediate endemicity. Vaccine issues still to be addressed included improving coverage in some rural/poor communities, instituting hepatitis B vaccine at birth and providing vaccines for high-risk population groups. Hepatitis B infection in the Middle East primarily occurs as a result of perinatal infection, horizontal transmission between family members and transmission from injections. Blood transfusion services have broadly efficient screening programmes, but immunocompromised and haemodialysis patients are at risk. The cost of screening, monitoring and treating CHB influences practice in a number of Middle East countries, and there is a need for information on the most cost-effective options.
来自七个国家的专家组成了中东专门小组，就慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）感染的流行病学、诊断和管理方面的实际问题交流信息。中东被认为是高-中度流行地区；然而，婴儿疫苗接种计划已成功降低了大多数国家乙型肝炎感染的流行率，使其达到低-中度地方性流行水平。疫苗方面仍有待解决的问题包括提高一些农村/贫困社区的覆盖率、在出生时接种乙型肝炎疫苗以及为高危人群提供疫苗。中东的乙型肝炎感染主要是由于围产期感染、家庭成员之间的水平传播以及注射传播所致。输血服务有广泛有效的筛查计划，但免疫功能低下和血液透析患者存在风险。筛查、监测和治疗 CHB 的费用影响着一些中东国家的实践，因此需要有关最具成本效益选择的信息。
