Hepatitis B vaccines.

The high rate of infection with hepatitis B virus in certain defined populations in industralized countries and among the general population in many non-industrialized countries stresses the need for hepatitis B vaccines. Hepatitis B, one of at least six different forms of viral hepatitis, may progress to chronic liver disease, including chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. Primary liver cancer is one of the ten most common cancers in the world today. Immunization against hepatitis B is required therefore for groups at high risk of infection according to epidemiological patterns, socioeconomic factors, cultural and sexual practices and the environment.