Introduction To Hepatitus Virus

Question 0

They all can cause …

Answer 0

Acute hepatitis. Treat with supportive care

Question 1

The hepatitis viruses are not closely evolutionarily related to each other but symptoms are similar because they all infect…

Answer 1

Hepatocytes

Question 2

Transmission

Answer 2

A: fecal-oral

B&C: sex/birth/blood transmitted

Question 3

Vaccination available for…

Answer 3

A&B

Question 4

Diagnosis by serology

Answer 4

Hep A: IgM=acute, IgG=recovered/vaccinated
Hep B: viral surface antigen (many decoys)=acute, IgG against viral surface antigens=recovered/vaccinated
Hep C: enzyme immunoassay (EIA)=real or false positive, recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)=confirmation

Question 5

Chronic hepatitis

Answer 5

Only in B and C

Can lead to cirrhosis and/or cancer

Question 6

Treatment for chronic

Answer 6

With polymerase inhibitors and interferon has many side effects, often ineffective
First generation protease inhibitors are improving treatment of serotype 1 (?) but have their own side effects
Second generation antivirals released last winter are producing exciting early results

Question 7

Alternative medicine

Answer 7

Monitor patient’s self-treatment with alternative remedies since prescribed treatments are difficult due to side effects and uncertain prognosis