MICRO: Viral hepatitis Flashcards
Summarise the hepatitis viruses stating whether each is a DNA/RNA virus and the route of transmission.
What is the route of transmission of HAV? Where is it more common?
Faeco-oral and blood-borne spread e.g. MSM and IVDU
More common where there is poor access to clean water
Schools and MSM
What is the incubation period of HAV? What is the presentation?
Incubation: 2-6 weeks (15-50 days)
Presentation: often subclinical in children and symptomatic in 70% of adults (symptoms: fever, malaise, anorexia/nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, jaundice)
Is HAV notifiable? What professions is this most important for?
Notifiable disease - mainly for occupational risks e.g.sewage workers, plumbers, chefs
Describe the course of HAV infection.
Incubation for 2-6 weeks followed by a transaminitis (high ALT).
What test is diagnostic for HAV? What if you had the vaccine?
Diagnostic for acute infection: Anti-HAV IgM reactive NB: unlikley if bilirubin <30umol/L
If you have had the vaccine you will also have IgG i.e.
- High IgM non-reactive; and
- High IgG WITHOUT the high ALT
Who are vaccines for Hepatitis A offerred to?
Pre-exposure immunisation among population at risk
Post-exposure prophylaxis
- Within 14 days of exposure to index case: HAV vaccine +/- HNIG (for 60 years and above, chronic liver diseases inc CHB/CHC, immunocompromised contact)
- Over 14 days: HAV vaccine +/- HNIG (for chronic liver diseases inc CHB/CHC, immunocompromised contact)
What are the presenting features of HAV? Which populations become symptomatic?
Strong correlation with age: <10% symptomatic among children <6 years old versus 70% in adults
Typical symptoms: fever, malaise, anorexia/nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, jaundice, extra-hepatic diseases
What period is HAV infectious?
2 weeks before onset of first symptoms and until 1week after the onset of jaundice
What is the diagnosis suggested by HAV IbM positive and HAV IgG negative?
How many genotypes of HBV are there?
10 genotypes (A-J) with distinctive geographic distribution
What features are seen on this EM image of HBV?
Dane particle = a spherical particle found in the serum in hepatitis B that is the virion of the causative double-stranded DNA virus.
Tubules and spheres = forms of the SAg of the virus (detected using Australian antigen test)
What type of virus is HBV? How does it replicate?
The family Hepadnaviridae
Double-strained DNA with reverse transcriptase
Produces enveloped virions
DNA virus BUT still uses reverse transcriptase to replicate so some HIV drugs are effective against it
Is HBeAg important in HBV? Where is it found in the virus particle?
Most people with HBV are HBeAg positive BUT some patients do NOT have HBeAg
It is found in the pre-core part of the core reading frame
What governs the risk of vertical transmission in pregnancy with HBV?
HBeAg is the most important risk predictor for vertical transmission
Summarise the molecular organisation of HBV. Why is there potential for mutation?
It has FOUR overlapping reading frames –> potential for mutation in polymerase gene to change surface antigen -> undetected by routine tests for SAgs
The role of the X antigen is unknown
Give 3 routes of transmission of HBV.
- Sexual
- Vertical
- Blood products
(bloodborne horizontal and vertical)
What are the clinical features of HBV?
Acute OR chronic infection (NB: chronic =lasting 6 months or more) associated with ALT rise
Presentation:
- Neonates & children: mostly asymptomatic or anicteric; 90% HBV-infected neonates develop CHB, and 30% among children age <5 years
- Adult: 30-50% icteric hepatitis; 10% become CHB
~0.05% risk of fulminant hepatitis; related to co-infection with HCV/HDV
What is the incubation period of HBV? Describe the course of the infection.
Incubation period is 2-6 months
NB:
- Anti-HBc IgM positive = recent infection
- Sag positive = you cannot tell if it is acute or chronic
What do these different markers in serology indicate in HBV?
- HBsAg
- HBsAb
- HBcAb
- HBeAg
- HBsAg: infection
- HBsAb: immunity through either immunisation or past infection
- HBcAb: exposure (IgM: acute infection)
- HbeAg: replication activity
- HBeAB
Is HBc IgM positivity diagnostic of acute HBV?
No, you cannot tell if it means acute or chronic infection unlike in HAV where it is diagnostic for acute infection.
Define chronic hepatitis B and name 2 complications.
Definition: persistence of HBsAg for 6 months or more after acute HBV infection
Complications
- Cirrhosis (8-20% untreated in 5 years)
- Hepatocellular carcinoma: (annual risk of 2-5% in cirrhosis)
What are the stages of chronic HBV?
New terminology: HBeAg positive or negative
Old terminology:
- Immune tolerant
- Immune reactive
- Inactive HBV carrier state
- HBeAg negative chronic HBV
- HBsAg negative phase
How does baseline HBV-DNA level correspond to severity of disease?
REVEAL study showed that with increasing baseline serum HBV DNA level:
- incidence of cirrhosis increases
- incidence of HCC increases
Therefore this is an indicator for the need to treat.
What is the management of HBV infection? Which medications should not be given to those who may later require a transplant?
Chronic HBV Treatment
- Interferon Alpha (used in a subset of patients who look like they are clearing the virus by themselves). Do not use in patients who may require a liver transplant.
- Lamivudine
- Tenofovir
- Entecavir
- Emtricitabine
Liver Transplantation – requires various other treatments (e.g. immunosuppression, nucleoside analogues, hepatitis B Ig)
Liver Failure
- Antivirals are very effective in treating the viral hepatitis - usually takes ~9 months in liver failure
Who is HBV vaccination offered to?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis
- Routine childhood immunisation in the UK since 2017
- High risk population
Post-exposure prophylaxis
- Neonate born to mother living with hepatitis B
- Sexual partner: HBV vaccine +/- HBIG (within one week from the contact)
- Needle stick injury
Should vaccination +/- HBIg be offered to the neonate in these cases?
Should HBV prophylaxis be given in these cases?
- Vaccinated
- Partially vaccinated
- Fully vaccinated with primary course
- Known non-responder to HBV vaccines