Hepatitis

Question 1

what is a ‘hepatic picture’ on liver function tests

Answer 1

high ALT + AST with proportionally less of a rise in ALP

Question 2

what is the most common viral hepatitis worldwide

Answer 2

hep A

Question 3

how is Hep A spread

Answer 3

faecal oral route

- contaminated water/food

Question 4

what viral marker indicates active Hep A infection

Answer 4

IgM anti-HAV

Question 5

what viral marker indicates past hep A infection

Answer 5

IgG anti-HAV

Question 6

how is Hep B spread

Answer 6

direct contact with blood + bodily fluids
- sex, IV drug use, needle stick injuries
mother to child during pregnancy

Question 7

which viral marker indicates active hep B infection

Answer 7

HBsAG

Question 8

which viral marker indicates high viral load and highly infectious hep B

Answer 8

HBeAG

Question 9

what is implied by:

• HBcAb IgM
• HBcAb IgG

Answer 9

HBcAb IgM = active Hep B infection

HbcAb IgG = past Hep B infection

Question 10

which viral hepatitis cannot be vaccinated against

Answer 10

Hep C + E

Question 11

how is Hep C spread

Answer 11

direct contact with blood + bodily fluids

- sex, IV drug use, needle stick injuries

Question 12

complications of hep C

Answer 12

liver cirrhosis

hepatocellular carcinoma

Question 13

treatment of Hep C

Answer 13

antivirals - peginterferon + ribavarin

Question 14

hep D is only found with which other type of viral hepatitis

Answer 14

Hep B

- increases complications + severity of hep B

Question 15

how is Hep E spread

Answer 15

faecal-oral

Question 16

what does Anti-HBs imply (HBsAb)

Answer 16

immunity to Hep B

- either past exposure or immunisation

Question 17

what vaccine should patients with chronic hepatitis be offered

Answer 17

one of pneumococcal vaccine

annual influenza vaccine