Liver-Hepatitis infections Flashcards
What happens once you have recovered from Hepatitis A
You have the immune response.
What is serology?
This is when we look in the blood for antibodies or antigens.
Compare passive and active immunisation
Passive imunisation is when the patient is given pre-formed antibodies.
Active imunisation is when the patient is given the antigen and the body produces the antibodies. (Long term immunity)
What is hepatitis B?
This is a partially double stranded DNA virus and is highly infectious.
What is the dane particle?
This is the intact particle of Hepatitis B
Discuss the production of Hep B’s outer coat?
Hepatitis B virus produces excess amounts of the outer coat of the dane particle. This produces spheres and tubules.
How is Hepatitis B transmitted?
- Bloodborne (intravenous drug users)
- Sexual
- Perinatal (mother trasmitting it to baby at birth)
What happens to long term Hepatitis B sufferers?
Hepatitis B can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Compare the antibody response of normal recovery to Hepatitis B and the repsonse of a Hep B carrier.
Antibody response-
Individual develops antibodies (igM).
Then develop Hbe antibody. (become less infectious)
They become protected when the anti-HB antibody is produced.
Carrier response-
The individual carries the antigens for a long time but does not produce the antibodies.
How do we deal with the exposure of an unimmunised individual to hep B?
We administer a passive immunisation which gives the individual the Hep B antibody. However, this must be done within 48 hours of infection.
Can we cure Hep B?
No, but there are drugs that supress the number of viral particles making the patient less infectious.
What is Hepatitis C?
This is an RNA virus
How can we use Serology to diagnose hep C?
- Anti HCV test- to detect the prescence of antibodies.
- HCV-RNA test to identify the presence of the virus in the blood
- Viral load- To measure the number of viral particles in the peripheral blood
- Viral genotyping- Determining the type of Hep C virus present.
Can we vaccinate for Hepatitis C?
No, we just have to treat patients once they are infected.
Why does Hep D need Hep B
It can only replicate when the patient is also infected with Hep B as it needs hep B to produce its outer surface proteins.
