We are pleased to invite you to the EASL International Consensus Conference on Hepatitis B, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 13th to the 14th of September, 2002.

The objective of the conference is to provide an up to date on the current knowledge on HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B. Experts will review the latest scientific evidence on virology, epidemiology, natural history, therapy and prevention.

An independent Jury panel will produce a statement addressing the following questions on the management of patients with chronic hepatitis B:

• What are the public health implications of hepatitis B?
  
  
• What is the natural history of hepatitis B virus infection, what are the factors influencing the disease?
  
  
• What is the best way to diagnose and classify hepatitis B?
  
  
• How can the transmission of hepatitis B be prevented?
  
  
• Which patients should be treated?
  
  
• What is the optimal treatment?
  
  
• How should untreated and treated patients be monitored?
  
  
• What are the main unresolved issues?

The conference will provide opportunity to keep pace with the latest developments in this field.

Geneva's central location will offer a particularly meaningful background to our conference where we are looking forward to welcoming you.