CASE 5 Flashcards
Hep A — what type of virus, incubation period, transmission methods
- RNA virus from picornavirus family
- 30 days (4-6 weeks)
- faecal oral transmission — associated with poor sanitation
which hepatitis is always acute?
hepatitis A
complications of Hep A
prolonged cholestasis, liver failure —> RARE but more likely in older adults and those with pre-existing liver disease
what antibodies are seen in acute Hep A infection?
HAV IgM then IgG
what hepatitis is endemic in developing world?
Hep A
Hep B — virus type, incubation period, transmission methods
- DNA virus with multiple genotypes
- from Hepadmaviridae family
- 75 days (6 weeks to 6 months)
- contact with infected blood, sexual, and mother to baby transmission - later is most important route globally - high risk of chronicity
what is the outcome of Hep B infection linked to?
maturity of immune system and effectiveness of response (linked to age)
which 2 viral hepatitis infections have the greatest risk of progressing to liver cancer?
B and C
what in blood shows a chronic infection of hep B?
surface Ag > 6 months
Hep C — virus type, incubation period, transmission methods
- RNA flavivirus
- 6 major subtypes
- 2 weeks - 6 months
- contact with infected blood (most important), sexual transmission, mother to baby — in UK : acute infections mainly in IVDU, HCV often acquired in childhood associated with poor sterilisation practices
acute infection in Hep C?
often asymptomatic
HCV:
__% develop chronic infection irrespective of age, immune status. __% will develop chronic liver disease, __-__% will develop cirrhosis, __-__% will die of cirrhosis or liver cancer
75% develop chronic infection irrespective of age, immune status. 60% will develop chronic liver disease, 5-20% will develop cirrhosis, 1-5% will die of cirrhosis or liver cancer
what are the different classes of direct acting antivirals used for Hep C?
protease inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors, NS5B inhibitors
Hep D — virus type, transmission methods
- defective RNA virus — cannot replicate by itself — uses surface antigen of HBV as its viral envelope
- contact with infected blood, sexual, and mother to baby transmission
- superinfection vs simultaneous
describe hepatitis delta
- cannot replicate by itself — needs HBV
- severe hepatitis
- 70% progress to cirrhosis
- lifetime risk of hepatocellular carinoma doubled
how is HDV diagnosed?
Hep D IgM, IgG, HDV RNA
how is HDV treated?
clearance of HBV sAg —> eradication of delta. pegylated interferon for > 48 weeks. has a poor success rate
how is HDV prevented?
Hep B vaccination
Hep E — virus type, incubation period, transmission methods
- RNA virus (Herpevirus family)
- average incubation period of 40 days
- oral-faecal transmission. HEV contamination of blood supply in many countries
describe the different HEV genotypes
- genotype 1,2 — large, water borne outbreaks
- genotype 3,4 — zoonotic, sporadic cases — associated with undercooked pork, wild boar, deer
in who can hepatitis E become chronic?
immunosuppressed
there is a higher morality for Hep E in who?
cirrhotic, pregnant women
Hep E is linked to a range of acute neurological syndromes. give an example
transverse myelitis
what is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in the UK?
Hep E
how is HEV diagnosed?
HEV IgM (Hep E IgG, HEV RNA blood, stool). chronic Hep E - check for hep E RNA in blood
which viral hepatitises have a vaccine?
A, B, E (only in China)
what are less common causes of VIRAL hepatitis?
- cytomegalovirus (congenital and perinatal infection)
- Epstein-Barr virus (adolescence)
rarer:
3. Herpes simplex (congenital and perinatal infection)
4. yellow fever
splenomegaly is an uncommon finding in clinical examination in viral hepatitis. what does it suggest?
either underlying pre-existing liver disease or perhaps infection with a different virus, such as Epstein Barr or cytomegalovirus
what else causes hepatitis?
• alcohol - hepatitis, fatty change, cirrhosis
• drugs - prescribed and misused
• autoimmune disease — each have a characteristic set of antibodies and target within the liver
what autoimmune diseases can cause hepatitis?
- primary sclerosis cholangitis
- primary biliary cirrhosis
- autoimmune hepatitis
HDV vs HBV virus type
HDV = RNA virus
HBV = DNA virus
which hepatitis cannot become chronic?
A and E
what can hep B, C and D develop into?
chronic infection - can develop into cirrhosis and hepatocellualr carincoma
how does hepatitis B replicate?
- HBV binds to the NTCP bile receptor on hepatocytes. this allows the virus to enter the cell
- the HBV DNA is partially double stranded
- the viral DNA enters the host cell nucleus and sues the host cell’s DNA to complete its DNA from partially double-stranded to a ‘covalently closed circular DNA’ = cccDNA
- the viral DNA is now transcribed into viral RNA
- this is then translated to produce viral antigens and other viral proteins
- the viral RNA undergoes reverse transcription in the viral nucleocapsid to form its partially double stranded DNA once again
- this is now packaged within the viral antigens
- this is then exocytosed and infects other cells
hepatitis viruses are non-cytopathic - what does this mean?
hepatitis viruses don’t cause damage themselves to the hepatocytes — it is the immune response to the virus that gives rise to the damage — hepatocyte damage is immune mediated
what happens when eg. Hep B enters a hepatocyte?
- hep B enters hepatocyte, then the hepatocyte will express certain antigens recognised by cytotoxic T cells, which will then destroy the hepatocyte
- antigen recognition by cytotoxic T cells : apoptosis
- chemokines drive recruitment of Ag-nonspecific cells
- mild inflammation ranging to massive necrosis if liver
what are symptoms of hepatitis?
- non-specific and include fatigue, lethargy, itching
- may also lead to some specific symptoms, for example : jaundice, right upper quadrant pain
what will be elevated in a hepatitis infection?
AST and ALT
what does it suggest if AST > ALT?
alcoholic hepatitis
what does it suggest if ALT > AST?
other causes than alcoholic hepatitis. mainly viral
what is the course of viral hepatitis?
- acute infection = this can be resolved by the body and the symptoms aren’t severe. an acute infection can develop into a chronic infection
- chronic infection = symptoms are more severe than an acute infection and can develop into cirrhosis/hepatocellular carcinoma
- fulminant infection
what does chronic viral hepatitis cause?
chronic liver inflammation, and subsequent healing with fibrosis, which, over time can progress to cirrhosis
what enzymes are released into the bloodstream from breakdown of hepatocytes, and are indicative of liver inflammation and injury?
ALT and AST
what is indicative of damage to the bile canaliculi and along with bilirubin is elevated in cholestasis?
alkaline phosphatase
what tests are best to show how liver is functioning?
PT and INR — liver cells synthesise clotting factors (measured by PT, INR) and other proteins such as albumin, and hence these tests are the best indicator of how the liver is functioning.
liver also synthesises proteins, so again we can access how liver is functioning by measuring serum albumin
what are high levels of ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin>
ALT > 35 U/L
AST > 40 U/L
ALP > 150 U/L
Bilirubin > 21 umol/L
what are the commonest symptoms of acute hepatitis?
= prodrome of nausea, fatigue, malaise, fever
- become jaundiced when fever settles, dark urine, pale stools
- RUQ tenderness, hepatomegaly
what are dark urine and pale stools in acute hepatitis due to?
cholestasis