Viral hepatitis Flashcards
When over half the liver is destroyed, function begins to fail, and you may see jaundice as first sign, as bilirubin cannot be transported into bile. Hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis
What virus families do these viruses belong to?
HAV
HBV
HCV
HAV - hepatovirus
HBV - hepadnavirus
HCV - flavivirus
What virus families do these viruses belong to?
HDV
HEV
Yellow fever
HDV - deltavirus. Required HBV co-infection, as incompelte virus
HEV - orthohepevirus
Yellow fever - flavivirus
Which hepatitis viruses are:
- ssRNA
- dsDNA
HAV HCV HDV HEV YF
HBV
Which hepatitis viruses are transmitted -
- faecal-oral
- blood-borne
- mosquito
- faecal-oral - HAV/HEV
- blood-borne - HBV/ HCV/ HDV
- mosquito - YF
What are other rarer viral causes of hepatitis?
Adenovirus
CMV
EBV
HSV
Which viruses are most associated with cirrhosis and progression to HCC?
HBV
HCV
HAV only has one serotype, and is endemic worldwide. 90% of children have been infected by age 5
What is transmission route?
What is incubation period?
Faecal-oral - poor hygiene/ anal itnercourse
4 weeks
Virus present in stool before symptoms appear
Outbreaks occur in schools/ camps, and near sources of contaminated water. Military will be vaccinated
What is life cycle of HAV?
Ingested in GI tract
Moves to bloodstream - replicates
Enters hepatocytes
Virions excreted into small intestine - appear in faeces
What are symptoms of HAV?
Nausea
Diarrhoea
Fever
Jaundice - more common in adults not previously infected
Has most sudden onset of viral hepatitis viruses
What is management of HAV?
Symptomatic
Vaccinate
Occasionally pooled human normal immunoglobulin
Avoid work/ school for 7 days as potentially infectious
How to diagnose HAV infection?
HAV IgM
HAV
Which at risk groups require vaccination?
Travellers Sewage workers Child day-care MSM IVDU Haemophilia
HEV spreads via faecal-oral route.
Which countries is it more commonly seen in?
From East Africa/ middle east/ Asia
Mexico
How many genotypes of HEV are there?
Genotypes 1/2 - large outbreaks in resource poor countries. Usually contaminated drinking water
Genotypes 3/4 - developing and developed countries. Usually food borne - undercooked food
What are natural reservoirs for HAV?
Chickens Pigs Rabbits Boar Dear
Mostly all asymptomatic
Usually transmitted faecal-oral between humans
But can originate in animals from undercooked pork
HEV infection
What are symptoms?
Which groups need to be wary?
Usually self-limiting mild illness
Pregnancy - may be severe, with up to 20% mortality
Immunosuppressed - 50% becomes chronic infection
How is HEV diagnosed?
Treatment is supportive. Vaccine in development
HEV IgM/ IgG
HEV RNA in blood/ stool
HBV is partially dsDNA virus. Estimated 350million carriers worldwide. Complete HBV virion known as Dane particle.
What are the characteristics of the HBV antigens and antibodies?
HBsAg
HBsAb
HBsAg - envelope antigen of HBV particle, can also occur as free particle in the blood. Indicates infectivity in blood. Part of antigen used to create vaccine
HBsAb - antibody response to HBsAg. Indicates post-vaccination response, and after resolved HBV infection
What are the characteristics of the HBV antigens and antibodies?
HBcAb (total)
HBc IgM
HBcAb - antibody to HB core antigen. Appears early in infection. Includes HBc IgM. Persists for life
HBc IgM - appears in acute HBV infection. Can last for 3 months. Is marker of acute HBV infection (in past 6 months). Can also be seen in those with HBeAg carriers with high viral replication
What are the characteristics of the HBV antigens and antibodies?
HBeAg
HBeAb
HBeAg - antigen derived from HBc. Indicates high transmissibility as indicates high replication and infectivity. It is soluble component secreted by virus core, also expressed on hepatocyte surface as target for host immune response
HBeAb - antibody to HBV core (includes HBeAG/ HBc). This occurs when HBeAg reduces, and is a sign of low-infectivity. HBeAg seroconversion when this antibody produced
What is route of transmission of HBV?
Vertical
Sexual
Blood products/ needles/ dialysis equipment
Tattoo/ accupuncture
How many genotypes are there of HBV?
10 A-J
ADG UK
Over 40 sub-genotypes
What is incubation period of HBV?
6 weeks - 6 months
Median is 2.5 months
HBV infeciton - how does liver damage occur?
Virus does not cause direct damage. Immune mediated damage of hepatocytes.
Virus-specific cytotoxic T-cells attack hepatocytes
As damage increases, signs of hepatitis appear
Immune response slowly becomes effective over period of months, so blood is no longer infectious. But virus remains in liver
Healthy adults with vigorous immune response can clear virus rapidly, but suffer severe illness. 10% cannot clear, and become carriers
What is definition of HBV carrier?
Who is at risk of become chronic carrier HBV?
Detection of HBsAg in blood 6 months after exposure
Immunodeficient - likely to be carrier, but wont suffer much disease
If infected perinatally, have 95% carriage rate
Males more likely to be carrier
What are complications of HBV?
Cirrhosis
HCC - 20-30 years following initial infection
HBeAg is used as marker of infectivity. What other tests help identify infectivity?
HBV DNA load become useful marker, as some virus strains have mutations in e antigen, which results in absence of HBeAg, although viable virion produced. Known as pre-core mutant virus
This therefore means they can be HBeAg neg, and HBeAb positive but could be highly infectious.
What are expected test results in the following conditions?
Acute Hepatitis B
HBsAg HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) HBeAb (anti-HBe) HBeAg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs)
Acute Hepatitis B
HBsAg - pos HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) - pos HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) - pos HBeAb - neg HBeAg - pos HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) - neg
HBsAg appears in serum during incubation period.
If self-limiting, HBsAg will gradually reduce as HB core IgM is produced. HB core IgM then reduces and is replaced with HB core IgG
If persisting infection, HBsAG remains high. HBeAg begins to icnrease. HB core antibodies are produced, IgM reduces, and is replaced by IgG. But this is ineffective at clearing the virus
What are expected test results in the following conditions?
Past Hepatitis B
HBsAg HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) HBeAb (anti-HBe) HBeAg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs)
Past Hepatitis B
HBsAg - neg HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) - pos HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) - neg HBeAb - pos HBeAg - neg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) - pos
What are expected test results in the following conditions?
Hepatitis B carrier low/ high infectivity
HBsAg HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) HBeAb (anti-HBe) HBeAg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs)
Hepatitis B carrier high infectivity
HBsAg - pos HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) - pos HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) - neg HBeAb - neg HBeAg - pos HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) - neg
Hepatitis B carrier low infectivity
HBsAg - pos HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) - pos HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) - neg HBeAb - pos HBeAg - neg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) - neg
anti-HBs only turns positive upon vaccination, or after approx 36 weeks after infection
What are expected test results in the following conditions?
Hepatitis vaccine response
HBsAg HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) HBeAb (anti-HBe) HBeAg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs)
Hepatitis vaccine response
HBsAg - neg HB core antibody (total anti-HBc) - neg HB core IgM (anti-HBcIgM) - neg HBeAb - neg HBeAg - neg HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) - pos
HBV vaccine gives good protection to 90% of people. 10% will not produce protective HB surface antibody.
How many doses are required?
Who is recommended to be vaccinated?
Three injections over 6 months
0, 1, 6 months - routine
0, 1, 2 months - accelerated
Healthcare workers IVDU Transfusion dependent Dialysis patient Sex worker
Now all neonates recommended to be vaccinated
If unvaccinated has needlestick injury, what treatment can be given?
Give HepB vaccination -
- if already immunised - give booster dose
- if not previously immunised - accelerated course 3 injections 3 months
- if vaccine non-responder - boost dose an HBIG
Consider HBIG
Check green book - depends on vaccine status of recipient, and risk form source
What is structure of HBV virion?
not DNA genes
DNA DNA polymerase HBcAg HBsAg with glycoproteins Envelope
What is structure of HBV DNA?
All 10 genotypes (A-J) all contain four long open reading frames (ORFs)
C - core. Encodes HBcAg and HBeAg. Mutations in pre-core region result in lack of HBeAG
S - surface. Encodes pre-S1/ pre-S2/ s region - encode HBsAG
P - polymerase. Encodes DNA polymerase and ribonuclease H. Encompasses 75% of whole genome. Also responsible for reverse transcription.
X gene - encodes polypeptide with several functions
What are possibilities for following serology results HBV?
HBsAg - negative
anti-HBc - positive
anti-HBs - negative
- False-positive anti-HBc, thus susceptible
2 Resolved infection (most common) - not devleoped anti-HBs yet
- “Low level” chronic infection
- passive transfer of maternal anti-HBc – in children up to 3 years of age
What are phases 1-3 (5) of HBV infection?
The progression through these phases of chronic HBV infection can be accompanied by the development of hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCC formation
Phases related to HBeAg/ HBV DNA levels
Phase 1 - high replicative, low inflammatory state. HBeAg positivity, high viral load, normal aminotransferases
Phase 2 - HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B phase, fluctuating aminotransferases, high HBV DNA, inflammation on liver biopsy
Phase 3 - HBeAg negative phase, low levels HBV DNA, and normal aminotransferases. If persists, has lower rate of progression towards cirrhosis
What are phases 4-5 (5) of HBV infection?
The progression through these phases of chronic HBV infection can be accompanied by the development of hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCC formation
Phase 4 - HBeAg negative, representing late immune reactive phase, with periodic fluctuating levels of aminotransferases and HBV DNA. Virus may have nucleotide substitutions in pre-core or basal core promoter region, explaining lack of HBeAg
Phase 5 - HBSag negative phase, HBV DNA usually undetectable
What are advantages of genotyping HBV?
Can locate origin - different genotypes more prevalent certain regions
Tailor treatment to patient
Certain genotypes have different modes of transmission e.g vertical/ horizontal, useful for epidemiology
Genotype influences disease outcomes and development of HCC
Mutation in error prone HBV polymerase creates genetic variability, termed genotype.
What are potential benefits of mutations?
Antiviral drug resistance mutations
Antiviral drug-associated potential vaccine escape mutants
Immune escape mutants - evade B cells
Deletion mutants unable to express non-essential HBV proteins e.g HBeAg
Where are most common HBV genotypes found geogrpahically?
genotype A found in North America, Europe, South-East Africa and India;
genotypes B and C in Asia and Oceania;
genotype D, the most widespread, in North America, North Africa, Europe, the Middle-East and Oceania;
genotype E in West Africa;
genotype F in South America;
genotypes G and H in Central and South America
UK - ADG
Which HBV genotypes are transmitted vertically?
Which HBV genotypes are transmitted horizontally?
Vertical -
A2
B
C
Horizontal - A1 D E F G H I
Which HBV genotypes are more likely to be HBeAg positive?
A2 - early seroconversion
C - late seroconversion
Which HBV genotypes are at higher risk of developing cirrhosis/ HCC?
A1
C
D
F