Hepatitis Alphabet Flashcards
Why is percutaneous transmission of Hep A and Hep E rare?
viremia is short and no chronic carrier state (HAV) and rare chronicity (HEV)
Where does replication of HAV and HEV occur?
in hepatocytes, excretion into bile and feces before onset of symptoms
What are the relative frequencies of subclinical and symptomatic HAV and HEV?
subclinical common in young children w HAV
symptomatic w jaundice commoner in older children and adults w HAV and older men w HEV, increased severity in elderly
When do symptoms and jaundice appear in acute HAV?
symptoms first while ALT rising - need more infected cells for jaundice than symptoms
What serologies are present in acute inf with HAV?
IgM HAV Ab positive
total HAV Ab positive
What serologies are present in acute inf with HEV?
IgM and IgG HEV Ab positive
What serologies are present w previous inf with HAV or HEV?
IgM HAV Ab and HEV Ab negative
total HAV Ab and IgG HEV Ab positive
What three functions is the hep B viral polymerase responsible for?
RNA dependent DNA synthesis
RNAase and DNA dependent DNA synthesis
What are the Hep B viral proteins?
core protein - detected in nucleus w HB core Ab, not detected in blood
surface protein - detected in cytoplasm with HB surface Ab, detected in blood
What are the three Ag-Ab systems for Hep B?
HBc = marker of exposure HBs = marker of vaccination or resolution HBe = marker of replication
What does it indicate if HBe Ag is detected?
all machinery necessary for viral replication is available - viral titers in blood are high, high infectivity
indicates ongoing replication
What are the clinical features of HepB?
HBs Ag detected after months and symptoms follow weeks later
majority have subclinical/anicteric
remainder have symptomatic/icteric = Phase II
possible serum sickness with skin rash and arthritis
Wat are the risk factors for chronic inf with Hep B?
neonatal, immunocompromised, organ transplant pts, renal dz on dialysis, AIDS and cancer pts
Are the long term outcomes of chronic Hep B inf more common after clinically silent dz or symptomatic acute?
clinically silent
What is the rationale for using interferon-alpha to treat hep B?
potential to decrease viral replication while boosting immune response at same time
