Hepatitis B overview

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Hepatitis Main Page

Hepatitis B

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Hepatitis B from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

CT

MRI

Ultrasound

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Hepatitis B overview On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatitis B overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Hepatitis B overview

CDC on Hepatitis B overview

Hepatitis B overview in the news

Blogs on Hepatitis B overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hepatitis B

Risk calculators and risk factors for Hepatitis B overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Jolanta Marszalek, M.D. [2]; João André Alves Silva, M.D. [3]

Overview

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) is a double stranded DNA virus belonging to the family Hepadnaviridae. It is responsible for hepatitis B virus infection in humans that attacks the liver and causes both acute and chronic disease.

Historical Perspective

The earliest record of an epidemic caused by HBV was made by Lurman in 1885 after an outbreak of smallpox led to the vaccintation of shipyard employees with lymph from other people. Weeks to months later, some of the workers became ill with jaundice and were diagnosed as suffering from serum hepatitis while others, inoculated with different batches of lymph, remained healthy. Lurman's paper, now regarded as a classic example of an epidemiological study, proved that contaminated lymph was the source of the outbreak. Similar outbreaks of serum hepatitis were reported following the introduction of hypodermic needles in 1909. The virus itself was not discovered until 1965 by Baruch Blumberg, who identified the Australia antigen(later known to be hepatitis B surface antigen or HBsAg) in blood collected from Australian aborigines. The virus particle was identified in 1970 with electron microscopy by D.S. Dane and others. By the early 1980's the virus' genome had been sequenced and in 1982, a vaccine against HBV was available.

Pathophysiology

Hepatitis B virus is a non-cytopathic, intracellular virus that causes little or no damage to the cell.[1] The host immune response to the virus is responsible for the hepatocellular damage seen in HBV infection. The HBV virion binds to a receptor at the surface of the hepatocyte and enters the cell, where it uses the host's cell mechanisms to replicate its genome and proteins.[1] The following viral antigens and antibodies are detected in serum throughout the course of the disease: HBsAg, HBcAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBC and anti-HBe. Transmission occurs from exposure to infectious blood or body fluids. Immune complexes, such as surface antigen-antibody, are important in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Causes

Differentiating Hepatitis B from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Treatment

Surgery

The treatment of hepatitis B usually involves no surgical procedures. However, among patients with advanced liver damage secondary to HBV infection or liver failure in fulminant hepatitis, liver transplantation may be beneficial.

References

Template:STD/STI

Template:WH Template:WS