Viral hepatitis Flashcards
Acute response of liver to hepatotropic viruses: Direct cytopathic vs immune-mediated
Both
Necrosis in viral hepatitis is most marked in what area
Centrilobular areas
Inflammatory infiltrates are settles in what area in cases of chronic hep
Inflammatory infiltrates
Neonates often respond to hepatic injury by forming
Giant cells
Viral hepatitis T/F Rapidly falling aminotransferase levels reflect poor outcome
T
Most important marker of liver injury
Altered synthetic function
Most prevalent of the hepatotropic viruses
Hepatitis A
Hepa viruses: Responsible for most forms of acute and benign hepatitis
A
Hepa viruses: RNA
A, C, E
Hepa viruses: Picornavirus
A
Hepa A transmission
Person-to-person through fecal-oral route
T/F Hepa A is responsible for ACUTE hepatitis only
T
Hepa A infection is diagnosed by
Anti-HAV IgM
2 distinct complications of Hepa A infection
1) Acute liver failure, usually in adolescents and adults 2) Prolonged cholestatic syndrome
Hepa A treatment
None specific
Patients infected with HAV are contagious when
2 weeks before and 7 days after onset of jaundice (should be excluded from school, child care, or work)
Indications for IM administration of Ig and vaccine (pre- and post-exposure)
1) Ig for susceptible travelers to countries where HAV is endemic 2) Vaccine for healthy persons prior to travel 3) Ig for <1 y/o, patients allergic to vaccine component, or those who elect not to receive vaccine 4) Ig postexposure EXCLUSIVELY for <12 months, immunocompromised, chronic liver disease, or if vaccine is contraindicated
Hepa viruses: DNA
B
Hepa viruses: Hepadnaviridae
B
Hepa B: Serves as a marker of active viral replication
HBeAg
Correlates with HBV DNA levels
HBeAg
Hepa B transmission
Blood transfusion and sexual contact
Most important risk factor for acquisition of HBV in children
Perinatal exposure to an HBsAg positive mother
T/F Breastfeeding of nonimmunized infants by infected motgers confers a greater risk of hepatitis than formula feeding
F
Chronic HBV infection is defined as
Positive HBsAg for >6 months
T/F Risk of developing chronic HBV infection is inversely related to age of acquisition
T
Most prevalent cancer-related death in young adults in Asia where HBV is endemic
Hep B hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepa B: Direct cytopathic vs immune-mediated
Immune-mediated
First biochemical evidence of HBV infection
Elevation of ALT (begins to rise just before development of fatigue, anorexia, and malaise)
First serologic marker of infection to appear in HBV infection
HBsAg
HBV infection: During recovery from acute infection, ___ might be the only marker of acute infection
HBc IgM (since HBsAg levels fall before symptoms wane)