GI: Hepatitis Flashcards
What are the pathological features of hepatitis?
Liver cell necrosis
Inflammatory cell infiltration
What is chronic hepatitis?
Inflammation of the liver lasting greater than 6 months
What causes chronic hepatitis?
Hep B, D, C
Autoimmune hepatitis
Wilson’s disease
Alcohol
How is Hep A spread?
Faecal-oral
Associated with poor hygiene, overcrowding
What age group most commonly gets Hep A?
Children and young adults
How is Hep A diagnosed?
The presence of IgM anti-HAV in the blood
The presence of what antibody in the blood indicates past Hep A infection?
IgG anti-HAV
How is hep B spread? What is it associated with?
Blood-blood
Sex
mother-child
Gay/polygamous sex and IV drug users
Which antigen in hep B is present in all infectious individuals?
HBsAG (surface antigen)
How long does HBsAG have to be present in the blood for the infection to be classified as chronic?
6 months
Which antigen is generally present in patients with highly infectious hepatitis B?
HBeAG
The presence of which Hep B antigen indicates acute infection?
IgM anti-HBc
Which form of hepatitis is only found in conjunction with hepatitis B?
Hepatitis D- exacerbates hep B
How is hep C spread? What is it associated with?
Blood-Blood
Sex
IV drug use
Which antigen is present in individuals who have previously been infected by or immunised against Hep B?
Anti-HBs