European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 20, Issue 1 , Pages 35-43 , January 2009

Descriptive epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B by using data from a hepatitis registry in Central Greece

  • Aggelos Stefos

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Academic Liver Unit, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • ,
  • Nikolaos Gatselis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Academic Liver Unit, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • ,
  • Kalliopi Zachou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Academic Liver Unit, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
    • Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology, Centre for Research and Technology-Thessaly (CE.RE.TE.TH), Larissa, Greece
  • ,
  • Eirini Rigopoulou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Academic Liver Unit, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
    • Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology, Centre for Research and Technology-Thessaly (CE.RE.TE.TH), Larissa, Greece
  • ,
  • Christos Hadjichristodoulou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • ,
  • George N. Dalekos

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Academic Liver Unit, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
    • Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology, Centre for Research and Technology-Thessaly (CE.RE.TE.TH), Larissa, Greece
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Academic Liver Unit and, Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Papakiriazi 22 str, 41222 Larissa, Greece. Tel.: +30 2410 565251; fax: +30 2410 565250.

Received 22 August 2007 ,Revised 18 March 2008 ,Accepted 25 April 2008.

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PII: S0953-6205(08)00140-4

doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2008.04.023

European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 20, Issue 1 , Pages 35-43 , January 2009