From viral pathobiology to the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection -: EASL Monothematic Conference (Istanbul, Turkey, October 6-8, 2005)

Hepatitis B virus infection, which was for over a decade put aside by the rising star of hepatitis C, has seen over the last years a resurgence of interest. This stemmed from a better knowledge of the virus itself, from the availability of new drugs and combinations, and from the realization that far from being eradicated by mass immunization programs HBV is still on a worldwide basis the major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, alone or in combinations with other viruses, alcohol and metabolic cofactors. This prompted the EASL Scientific Committee to organize a Monothematic Conference on HBV. Experts from Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, the Far East and other parts of the world convened in Istanbul on October 6-8, 2005 to review pathobiology and management of HBV-induced disease. The report, drafted by the meeting's organizers, attempts to summarize the achievements of the last years. A full audiovisual of all lectures given by the Faculty, whose members contributed to this report and are listed below (*), can be accessed on the EASL website at http://www.easl.ch/. © 2006.