Hepatitis B Virus - Basics Flashcards
Interpret these HBV serological results
HBsAg -ve
anti-HBc -ve
anti-HBs -ve
1) Never been infected
2) Susceptible to becoming infected
Interpret these HBV serological results
HBsAg -ve
anti-HBc +ve
anti-HBs +ve
1) Previously infected
2) Immune to HBV by serocoversion
Interpret these HBV serological results
HBsAg -ve
anti-HBc -ve
anti-HBs +ve
1) Never been infected
2) Immune to HBV by vaccination
Interpret these HBV serological results HBsAg +ve anti-HBc +ve anti-HBs -ve anti-HBc IgM +ve
1) Acute HBV infection
2) No HBV immunity present
Interpret these HBV serological results HBsAg +ve anti-HBc +ve anti-HBs -ve anti-HBc IgM -ve
1) Chronic HBV infection
2) No HBV immunity present
Interpret these HBV serological results
HBsAg -ve
anti-HBc +ve
anti-HBs -ve
1) Recovering from acute HBV infection
2) Distantly immune and test not sensitive to detect low level of anti-HBs in serum
3) Chronically infected and test not sensitive to detect low level of anti-HBs in serum (occult HBV infection)
4) False+ve HBc in patient without HBV immunity
Define chronic hepatitis B infection
1) Chronic necroinflammatory disease of the liver caused by persistent infection w/HBV –> HBsAg +ve; anti-HBs -ve
2) Subdivide into
1. HBeAg-+ve
2. HBeAg -ve
Define inactive HBsAg carrier state
1) Persistent HBV infection of the live
2) No significant, ongoing necroinflammatory disease.
Define resolved hepatitis B
1) Previous HBV infection
2) No further virological, biochemical, or histological evidence of active virus infection or disease.
Define acute exacerbation/flare of hepatitis B
1) Intermittent elevations of AST/ALT >10x normal
2) Must also be >2x baseline
Define reactivation of hepatitis B
1) Reappearance of active necroinflammatory disease of the liver in 2 kinds of patients
1. Inactive HBsAg carrier state
2. Resolved hepatitis B
Outline the changes in HBsAg from incubation period, acute infection, to chronic infection
1) HBsAg detectable in serum 1-10w after infection
2) anti-HBc IgM detectable in serum during window period when HBsAg disappears but no anti-HBs is present
3) Hepatitis symptoms OR elevated ALT occurs the time AFTER HBsAg and anti-HBc IgM are detected but BEFORE anti-HBs is detected
4) HBsAg undetectable after 4-6m after hepatitis recovery
- persistence >6m = chronic HBV infection
5) Rate of HBsAg clearance in chronic HBV is 0.5% per year
Outline the clinical significance of e-seroconversion
1) Reduction in replication
2) Reduction in infectivity
3) Accompanied by drop in HBV DNA
4) Response to antiviral treatment
Outline the biomarkers used to monitor for active HBV
Reactivation –> indication for HBV antiviral treatment
1) HBV DNA >log 4-5
2) ALT levels >2-3x normal (35 i.e. >70-105
3) Elevations persistent for >3m
HBeAg no longer used for monitoring!!!
1) 10% HBeAg -ve patients still have active disease
2) HBeAg remains +ve in some e-seroconversion patients
Outline the clinical utility of HBeAg
1) Not used for monitoring HBV response/reactivation
2) Can predict sustained viral response
- if HBeAg -ve after antiviral then patient more likely to have sustained response –> try stopping antivirals after 6-12m if HBV DNA and ALT levels normalize
- if HBV DNA and ALT levels remain elevated despite HBeAg -ve then long term antivirals as relapse rate up to 80-90%
Explain why there is a wide difference in HBV carrier rate in various parts of the world. Explain why it is high in Hong Kong
1) Age at infection determines chronicity
2) Infection at a young age = chronic HBV infection
3) Infection at a old age = less chronic HBV infection
4) 70% of HBV cases in Hong Kong are from vertical transmission thus HBV chronicity remains high in HK
5) Theory is that HBV genome becomes integrated into the young patients thus seroconversion is rare
6) Also the rationale why PEG-IFN is only used in HCV but not HBV infections
List the major routes of transmission for HBV
1) Vertical transmission
2) Sexual transmission
3) IV drug users
4) Needle prick injuries
Outline the clinical significance of HBsAg
marker of infection