Case 45: Hepatitis in a 30 year old male Flashcards Preview

Microbiology and Immunology Pracs > Case 45: Hepatitis in a 30 year old male > Flashcards

Flashcards in Case 45: Hepatitis in a 30 year old male Deck (9)
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1
Q

What does presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) mean?

A

Found on the surface of the virus but is also produced in vat excess by infected hepatocytes and found in the blood

2
Q

What does presence of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) mean?

A

Presence usually indicates immunity

3
Q

What does presence of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) mean?

A

Protein coat surrounding the viral nucleic acid - current infection

4
Q

What does presence of hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) mean?

A

IgM indicates recent infection, may also be present in reactivations.

IgG will rise in acute infection and persists indefinitely.

5
Q

What does presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) mean?

A

Presence indicates active replication - persists with chronic infection.

Some patients can be HBeAg negative and chronically infected due to a HBV mutant (so-called precore mutant)

6
Q

What does presence of hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAb) mean?

A

Found only after clearance of HBeAg

7
Q

How can HBV DNA be measured?

A

By hybridisation assays or PCR

8
Q

The presence of HbsAg, HBV DNA and HBeAg suggests what?

A

Infection with Hepatitis B

9
Q

How will the antibody profile be different between acute and chronic HBV infection?

A

Acute: ALT rises and then falls after infection. HBcAb total rises and remains high, HBcAb IgM rises and falls, HBsAb rises, HBeAb rises and then falls

Chronic: ALT rises and falls with intermittent peaks, HBcAb total remains elevated, HBc IgM falls