Hepatitis B
On this page:ManifestationsManagementApproach to DiagnosisPhases of InfectionApproach to DiagnosisPhases of Infection
Overview
Ask About
- Diagnosis - cause (if known), when diagnosed
- Manifestations - cirrhosis, polyarteritis nodosa, membranous glomerulonephropathy
- Management - antivirals, surveillance
Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Infection
- Certain ethnic groups
- Children of hepatitis B positive mothers
- Iatrogenic exposure - surgery, colonoscopy, haemodialysis, blood transfusion prior to 1990
- High risk sexual behaviour
- Healthcare workers
- IV drug use
- Prisoners
- Tattoos
Manifestations
Manifestations of Hepatitis B Infection
Hepatic
- Acute hepatitis
- Chronic hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis D infection
Extrahepatic
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Membranous glomerulonephropathy
- Serum sickness-like syndrome (fevers, rash, myalgias, arthralgias)
Phases of Hepatitis B Infection
- Immune tolerant - very early infection, prior to significant hepatitis
- Immune active - attempted clearance of the virus by the immune system
- Immune control - low viraemia due to clearance
- Immune escape - recrudescence of viral replication and hepatitis
Management
Management of Hepatitis B
Non-Pharmacologic
- Cirrhosis surveillance
- HCC surveillance
Pharmacologic
- Nucleoside analogues - entecavir, lamivudine
- Nucleotide analogues - tenofovir
- Pegylated interferon
Approach to Diagnosis
Serological markers are useful for assessing for active or past hepatitis B infection.
Phases of Infection
The immune active phase represents the immune system attempting to clear the infection. Active hepatitis will manifest as elevated ALT, while the HBV DNA titre will fall. The HBeAg may be positive; many patients seroconvert with development of anti-HBe antibodies during this phase.
The immune surveillance (or immune control) phase represents clearance of the infection. As hepatitis resolves the ALT will fall. Patients in this phase will remain hepatitis B carriers at risk of recurrence.
The immune escape phase (also known as HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitic B) occurs when the virus develops mutations to evade the control of the immune system and replicates, producing a recurrence in hepatitis and a high HBV DNA titre.
Interpretation
- E-antigen (HBeAg) - early infection
- Hep B DNA (HBV DNA) - level of viral replication
Approach to Diagnosis
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) is indicative of active hepatitis B infection. This test does not distinguish between acute or chronic infection.
The hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) is indicative of past hepatitis B infection or past vaccination against hepatitis B. A positive surface antibody suggests immunity against the virus.
The hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) is indicative of past or current hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis B core IgM is also sometimes ordered when the anti-HBc is positive; a high titre of anti-HBc IgM is suggestive of acute infection and is useful for distinguishing acute and chronic hepatitis B.
Interpretation
- Surface antigen (HBsAg) - active (acute or chronic) infection
- Surface antibody (anti-HBs) - vaccination or past infection
- Core antibody (anti-HBc) - past or current infection
Phases of Infection
In patients with active hepatitis B infection, further tests are available for determining the phase and severity of infection.
The immune tolerant phase of hepatitis B infection is seen in very early infection and indicates active viral replication with no immune response. Most patients will progress to the immune active phase almost immediately, though some children infected with hepatitis B at birth will remain in the immune tolerant phase for many years. Hepatitis B DNA (HBV DNA) is a qualitative marker of viral replication, with high titres during the immune tolerant phase. The hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) corresponds to infectivity and will be positive in this early phase of infection.
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