Viral Hepatitis Flashcards
Hepatitis Viruses: Overview
Hepatitis A* RNA No
Hepatitis B* DNA 10%
Hepatitis C RNA 70%
Hepatitis A: Review
- Non-enveloped, RNA virus (picornavirus)
- Transmission: fecal-oral; ingestion of contaminated food
or water - Virus replicates and causes infection of hepatocytes
– Immune response by cytotoxic T-cells is the likely cause of
hepatocyte damage
– Once the infection is cleared, hepatic damage is repaired - Infection may be asymptomatic or range in severity from
mild illness lasting 1-2 weeks to severe disabling disease
lasting several months
– Children often asymptomatic versus adult
Hepatitis A: Clinical Course
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Serology Interpretation
Anti HAV IgM Anti HAV IgG Possible Interpretation
- - No current or previous HAV infection
No immunity
- + No active infection
Immunity due to prior HAV infection
or vaccination
+ +/- Acute or recent HAV infection
Prevention HepA
- Treatment
- Proper hand washing and contact precautions
- Sanitation
- Avoid drinking contaminated water
- Boil food/beverages that may be contaminated
- Hepatitis A vaccination
- Immunoglobulin
– Generally self-limiting
– Supportive care and symptomatic management
Hepatitis B: review
Pathophysiology
Partially double-stranded DNA virus of the family
Hepadnaviridae
* Enveloped
– Outer surface contains HBsAg
– Inner core contains HBcAg, HBeAg
* Several different genotypes have been identified
- Hepatitis B virus attaches to the hepatocyte cell
surface and then enters into the cell - Virus replicates
- Immune system responds to virus
– Strong immune response may clear virus (e.g., adults) - Patients do not become chronically infected
– Weak immune response leads to chronic infection - Inflammatory response → Damage to hepatocytes →
cirrhosis/hepatocellular carcinoma
Outcome of HBV Infection
Exposure &
Infection
Asymptomatic
Resolved
Immune
Chronic
infection
Asymptomatic
Cirrhosis
Liver cancer
Symptomatic acute hepatitis B
Resolved
Immune
Chronic
infection
Asymptomatic Cirrhosis
Liver cancer
Signs and symptoms
acute hep B
chronic hep B
- Acute Hepatitis B
– May be asymptomatic
– Fever
– Fatigue
– Loss of appetite
– N/V, abdominal pain
– Grey-colored stool
– Dark urine
– Joint pain
– Jaundice - Chronic Hepatitis B
– May be asymptomatic
– Fatigue, malaise
– Anorexia, N/V
– Ascites
– Jaundice
– Variceal bleed
– Encephalopathy & seizures
– Labs: - HBsAg positive > 6 months
- intermittent ↑ ALT/AST
Serology Interpretation – Initial Tests
HBsAg Anti HBs Anti HBc Possible Interpretation
- - - No current or previous HBV
infection
No immunity
- + - Immunity due to vaccination
- + + Infection resolved, virus cleared
Immunity due to previous infection.
However if immunosuppressed,
virus can reactivate
+ - + Chronic infection
Goals of Therapy
preventionfor hep b
- Prevent transmission
- Prevent disease progression (e.g. fibrosis,
development of hepatocellular cancer) and mortality - Suppress HBV-DNA replication (not curable…yet)
- Vaccination
- Passive immunity in post-exposure individuals
– Hepatitis B immunoglobulin - Barrier protection (condom use)
- Avoid sharing needles, razors, etc….
Populations disproportionately affected by HCV:
– Indigenous people, people who inject drugs, immigrants, homeless or
incarcerated populations, as well as those born between 1946-1965\
Burden of HCV in Canada
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Transmission of HCV
- Sharing drug-injection equipment
- Unsterile tattooing or body piercing
- Unsterile medical or dental procedures (where skin is pierced)
- Blood product transfusion in Canada before 1992
- Parent to child transmission during pregnancy or childbirth
(Note: do not need to avoid pregnancy or breastfeeding) - Sexual transmission (where blood is present, even if trace)
- Re-using someone else’s personal items that have blood on
them (e.g., razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes)
Blood Borne Pathogens – Relative
Risk of Transmission
- Needlestick transmission rates:
– HBV – 30 out of every 100
– HCV – 3 out of every 100
– HIV – 0.3 out of every 100
Pathophysiology hep
Hepatitis C virus life cycle
Belongs to the family flaviviridae
* Single stranded RNA virus
– 6 main genotypes (1 through 6) and many subtypes
* Replication occurs in the hepatocytes
– Chronic infection occurs due to rapid replication and continuous
cell-to-cell spread → chronic inflammation
– Frequent mutations
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Clinical Presentation
hep c
Clinical Course of HCV - untreated
- Usually asymptomatic
- HCV detectable within 1-2 weeks + ↑ ALT
- Fatigue, weakness
- Anorexia, abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Dark Urine
Acute HCV
infection
Death or transplantation
Resolution
Cirrhosis Hepatocellular
carcinoma