Viral hepatitis


Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute form as a recent infection with relatively rapid onset, or in chronic form.
The most common causes of viral hepatitis are the five unrelated hepatotropic viruses hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Other viruses can also cause liver inflammation, including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and yellow fever. There also have been scores of recorded cases of viral hepatitis caused by herpes simplex virus.
The most common types of hepatitis can be prevented or treated. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination. Effective treatments for hepatitis C are available but costly.
In 2013, about 1.5 million people died from viral hepatitis, most commonly due to hepatitis B and C. East Asia, in particular Mongolia, is the region most affected.

Hepatitis viruses

The most common cause of hepatitis is viral. Although the effects of various viruses are all classified under the disease hepatitis, these viruses are not all related.
Hepatitis A virus Hepatitis B virus Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis D virus Hepatitis E virus
Viral speciesHepatovirus AHepatitis B virusHepacivirus CHepatitis delta virusOrthohepevirus A
Viral familyPicornaviridaeHepadnaviridaeFlaviviridaeIncertae sedisHepeviridae
GenomessRNAdsDNA-RTssRNAssRNAssRNA
AntigensHBsAg, HBeAgCore antigenDelta antigen
TransmissionEnteralParenteralParenteralParenteralEnteral
Incubation period20–40 days45–160 days15–150 days30–60 days15–60 days
Severity/ChronicityMild; acuteOccasionally severe; 5–10% chronicSubclinical; 70% chronicExacerbates symptoms of HBV; chronic with HBVMild in normal patients; severe in pregnant women; acute
Vaccine10 year protection3 injections, lifetime protectionNone availableNone availableInvestigational

Viral hepatitis types

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A or infectious jaundice is caused by hepatitis A virus, a picornavirus transmitted by the fecal-oral route often associated with ingestion of contaminated food. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage. The patient's immune system makes antibodies against HAV that confer immunity against future infection. People with hepatitis A are advised to rest, stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. A vaccine is available that will prevent HAV infection for up to 10 years. Hepatitis A can be spread through personal contact, consumption of raw sea food, or drinking contaminated water. This occurs primarily in third world countries. Strict personal hygiene and the avoidance of raw and unpeeled foods can help prevent an infection. Infected people excrete HAV with their feces two weeks before and one week after the appearance of jaundice. The time between the infection and the start of the illness averages 28 days, and most recover fully within 2 months, although approximately 15% of sufferers may experience continuous or relapsing symptoms from six months to a year following initial diagnosis.
MarkerDetection TimeDescriptionSignificance
Faecal HAV2–4 weeks or 28 days–Early detection
Ig M anti HAV4–12 weeksEnzyme immunoassay for antibodiesDuring acute Illness
Ig G anti HAV5 weeks–persistentEnzyme immunoassay for antibodiesOld infection or reinfection

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus, a hepadnavirus that can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis develops in the 15% of adults who are unable to eliminate the virus after an initial infection. Identified methods of transmission include contact with blood, blood transfusion, unsanitary tattoos, sex, or mother-to-child by breast feeding; there is minimal evidence of transplacental crossing. However, in about half of cases the source of infection cannot be determined. Blood contact can occur by sharing syringes in intravenous drug use, shaving accessories such as razor blades, or touching wounds on infected persons. Needle-exchange programmes have been created in many countries as a form of prevention.
Patients with chronic hepatitis B have antibodies against the virus, but not enough to clear the infected liver cells. The continued production of virus and countervailing antibodies is a likely cause of the immune complex disease seen in these patients. A vaccine is available to prevent infection for life. Hepatitis B infections result in 500,000 to 1,200,000 deaths per year worldwide due to the complications of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B is endemic in a number of countries, making cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma big killers. There are eight treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration available for persons with a chronic hepatitis B infection: alpha-interferon, pegylated interferon, adefovir, entecavir, telbivudine, lamivudine, tenofovir disoproxil and tenofovir alafenamide with a 65% rate of sustained response.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is caused by hepatitis C virus, an RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. HCV can be transmitted through contact with blood and can also cross the placenta. Hepatitis C usually leads to chronic hepatitis, culminating in cirrhosis in some people. It usually remains asymptomatic for decades. Patients with hepatitis C are susceptible to severe hepatitis if they contract either hepatitis A or B, so all persons with hepatitis C should be immunized against hepatitis A and hepatitis B if they are not already immune, and avoid alcohol. HCV can lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, however, only a minority of HCV-infected individuals develop cancer, suggesting a complex interplay between viral gene expression and host and environmental factors to promote carcinogenesis. The risk is increased two-fold with active HBV coinfection and a 21% increase in mortality compared to those with latent HBV and HCV. HCV viral levels can be reduced to undetectable levels by a combination of interferon and the antiviral drug ribavirin. The genotype of the virus is the primary determinant of the rate of response to this treatment regimen, with genotype 1 being the most resistant.
Hepatitis C is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States.
MarkerDetection TimeDescriptionSignificanceNote
HCV-RNA1–3 weeks or 21 daysPCRDemonstrates presence or absence of virusResults may be intermittent during course of infection. Negative result is not indicative of absence.
anti-HCV5–6 weeksEnzyme Immunoassay for antibodiesDemonstrates past or present infectionHigh false positive in those with autoimmune disorders and populations with low virus prevalence.
ALT5–6 weeks–Peak in ALT coincides with peak in anti-HCVFluctuating ALT levels is an indication of active liver disease.

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus, or hepatitis delta virus; it belongs to the genus Deltavirus. It is similar to a viroid as it can only propagate in the presence of the hepatitis B virus, depending on the helper function of HBV for its replication and expression. It has no independent life cycle, but can survive and replicate as long as HBV infection persists in the host body. It can only cause infection when encapsulated by hepatitis B virus surface antigens.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is caused by the Hepatitis E virus, from the family Hepeviridae; it produces symptoms similar to hepatitis A, although it can take a fulminant course in some patients, particularly pregnant women ; chronic infections may occur in immune-compromised patients. It is more prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. The virus is feco-orally transmitted and usually is self-limited.

Hepatitis F virus

Hepatitis F virus is a hypothetical virus linked to certain cases of hepatitis. Several hepatitis F virus candidates emerged in the 1990s, but none of these reports have been substantiated.

GB virus C

The GB virus C is another potential viral cause of hepatitis that is probably spread by blood and sexual contact. It was initially identified as Hepatitis G virus. There is very little evidence that this virus causes hepatitis, as it does not appear to replicate primarily in the liver. It is now classified as GB virus C.

Relationship between hepatitis C virus and liver cancer

Hepatitis C virus are causing acute and chronic infections that is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.
A major cause of death in HCC patients with chronic HCV infection. The pathogenesis of HCC associated with HCV, that virus play direct and indirect roles.
A major risk for the development of HCC is presistent infection with HCV and the highest risk for HCC development is associated with co-infection of HBV with HDV, HCV or HIV.
The risk factors lead to development of HCC in chronic HCV is synchronous liver diseases, viral genotype, lifestyle factors and presence of obesity and diabetes mellitus. The lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use and coffee drinking accelerated progression to HCC in HCV.
The purpose of HCV treatment is to eliminate the infection, reduce the transmission to other people and decrease the risk of HCC development.

Other viruses

The virus first known to cause hepatitis was the yellow fever virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus. Other viruses than can cause hepatitis include:
KIs-V is a virus isolated in 2011 from four patients with raised serum alanine transferases without other known cause; a causal role is suspected.