Importance of hepatitis vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease.
Acute hepatitis A or B infection can be lethal in patients with chronic liver disease. Safe and effective vaccines are currently available to prevent hepatitis A and B. Despite wide availability of vaccines, most patients with chronic liver disease are not immunized, in part due to nonuniform and inconsistent current recommendations for this population. A better understanding of the importance of preventing acute hepatitis A and B in patients with chronic liver disease and a proactive approach to vaccination by primary care physicians can positively influence the outcome of patients with chronic liver disease.
Division of Gastroenterology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL 36693, USA.
Manoj
M
Kumar
Jorge L
JL
Herrera
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D015163:Superinfection / Q000517:prevention & control; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines