JC57 - Hepatitis B Flashcards
Standard workup tests for hepatitis
WBC - normal or relative lymphocytosis LFT: Transaminase at 200-2000IU/L during acute infections PT: index for progress and prognosis Bilirubin Serology: → IgM anti-HAV → HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc → Anti-HCV and HCV RNA → IgM anti-HEV
Structure and genome of HBV
Structure: ‘double-shelled’
→ Nucleocapsid core formed by HBcAg
→ Envelope formed by HBsAg
overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) genome: S ORF (S gene): codes for polyalbumin binding sites, cell surface receptors, HBsAg C ORF (C gene): HBcAg and HBeAg P ORF (P gene): viral polymerase X ORF (X gene): HBX protein
HBV proteins that indicate active infection
Small/ Medium/ Large HBsAg: Presence in serum indicates active viral infection
C ORF Proteins:
HBeAg: Secreted in serum during replication, indicates active viral replication
HBcAg: Reside in virions and infected hepatocytes only, NOT detectable in serum
Pathogenesis of HBV infection
HBV NOT directly cytopathic
1) Proteolytic cleavage of viral proteins in infected hepatocytes
2) peptide presented to cell surface by MHC class I
3) triggers immune reaction via TNF-α and IL-1β
4) damage to liver through cytotoxic T cells and cytokines
Transmission of HBV
Vertical transmission at birth
→ Typically mother-to-child
Blood transfusion/ contaminated blood products
Close contact as toddlers
Needles
→ IVDU, acupuncture, tattoo
Sexual contact
Reason for higher risk of chronic HBV infection in neonates
1) Immature immunity»_space;> Failure of host to recognize infected hepatocytes
Eg. covering of viral Ag displayed by HLA by maternal anti-HBc
Viral factors:
Excessive production of HBsAg, acts as empty decoy against humoral and T cell response
HBx protein: inhibits degradation of viral protein, less APC
Polymerase protein: suppresses myeloid differentiation protein, less toll-like receptor (TLR) function
Precore/HBeAg:
- Down-regulates TLR-2 expression on Kupffer cells, hepatocytes and monocytes
- Down-regulates CD28 on T cells and CD86 on monocytes and Kupffer cells
HBV Serological markers and indications
HBsAg, antiHBs and anti-HBc informs on the disease status in acute/chronic hepatitis
- HBsAg indicates ongoing infection
- Anti-HBs indicates immunity, functional recovery
- Anti-HBc indicates previous exposure
HBeAg and HBV DNA informs on the disease activity of hepatitis
- HBeAg indicates active replication
- HBV DNA indicates viral load
In vaccinated individuals, anti-HBs is present but not anti-HBc (not included in vaccines)
Differentiate Combinations of HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc +/- results
Titer of different HBV serological markers with time
HBV serological markers to ddx chronic flares vs acute infection
Function of HBeAg
HBeAg indicates active replication
□ Acute infection:
→ Only present transiently at onset of illness
→ Followed by rapid seroconversion (before s-seroconversion)
□ Chronic infection: useful to inform on the phase of chronic hepatitis B infection
→ HBeAg seroconversion indicates immune clearance phase
→ Exception: HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis in pre-core and core promoter mutants
(with high levels of HBV-DNA and liver damage despite HBeAg-)
Function of Anti-HBc
Anti-HBc indicates previous exposure
□ Acute infection:
→ Appears early during symptomatic phase
→ Initially IgM, later converted into IgG
□ Chronic infection:
→ Usually present
→ May be lost in late infection w/ HBV DNA integration into host genome
□ Presence of IgM anti-HBc indicates
→ Acute infection
→ Chronic reactivation of hepatitis B (with lower titres)
□ In vaccinated individuals, anti-HBs is present but not for anti-HBc
Functions of Anti-HBs
Anti-HBs indicates immunity
□ Acute infection:
→ Appears ~3-6mo after acute infection
→ Usually persists for many years or even permanently but may become undetectable
□ Chronic infection:
→ Seroconversion rarely occurs (~10%)
→ Presence indicates “functional recovery”
Treatment of acute HBV infection
Supportive (eg. avoid hepatotoxins)
Antivirals if severe or prolonged
- Tenofovir
- Aim for 2 log drop in HBV DNA in 2 weeks