Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Hepatitis B(Clinical aspect)


                Hepatitis B(Clinical aspect)
Clinical features
—  Generally asymptomatic
—  Prodormal illness (<2weeks) includes:
         fever, chills, headache, myalgia, arthalgia, nausea and anorexia.
—  Icteric phase
            dark urine with yellow discoloration of sclera , pale stool.
            accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
—  Recovery phase (3-6 weeks):
            improved apetite, GI symptoms subside, jaundice decreases.
Physical signs
—  Liver
          tender  and minimally enlarged
—  Spleen
             splenomegaly
—  Lymph nodes
          cervical lymphadenopathy
Complications
—  Acute liver failure
—  Aplastic anemia
—  Relapsing hepatitis
—  Chronic liver disease
           progression to chronicity
                          i. Vertical transmission- 90%
                          ii. Horizontal transmission- 10%
—  Cirrhosis
—  Hepatocellular carcinoma
—  Renal failure
—  Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
Poor prognostic features
—  Marked increase in AST and ALT
—  Bilirubin >20mg/dl
—  Liver not enlarged
—  PT prolongation by 5 seconds
—  Recurring attacks of hypoglycemia
—  Renal failure
—  Associated conditions
Investigations           
—  Immunological tests
           detection of the viral antigens and the host antibodies against them
    i. HBs Ag
             viral surface antigen
           active infection
           appear late in IP before the prodormal stage at about 3-4 weeks and
           disappear by 5 months
  
    ii. HBc Ag
            viral core antigen, not found in blood
           denotes a recent infection
          iii. HBe Ag
              indicate active viral replication in liver and infectivity
                detected early in course
iv. Anti HBc Ag
               IgM type with IgG Ab
                first antibody to appear, persist life long
 v. HBs Ag and anti HBc(IgG) in blood denote progression to chronicity.
 vi. HBV-DNA
                by polymerase chain reaction
                measures viral load and active viral replication
 Laboratory tests
   i. liver function tests
            - raised bilirubin level (conjugated and unconjugated)
            - raised aminotransferses (ALT and AST)
            - ALP level may be raised but less than twice the normal.
    ii. Low total count with neutropenia, relative lymphocytosis
         and atypical lymphocytes.
   iii. Urine shows bilirubinemia, slight microscopic
         hematuria and mild proteinuria.
   iv. Marked prolongation of prothrombin time signifying
         extensive hepatocellular damage.
Management
          no specific t/t, only supportive with monitoring for ALF.
          full recovery in (90-95)% and (5-10)% chronicity for life.
—  Rest
           complete rest during the symptomatic phase
         gradual ambulation.
—  Diet
           2000-3000Kcal/day, light diet, fruit drinks and glucose
         protein diet
         i.v. fluids in case of severe vomiting.
—  Drugs
          use of any other drugs (sedative and hypnotics) is avoided.
          alcohol avoided for about 6 months.
          OCP is resumed after  clinical and biochemical recovery.
          Antiviral drugs for Hepatitis B Infection
—  Interferon-α
          - augment native immune response
          - c/i  in cirrhosis
—  Lamivudine
         - inhibit DNA polymerase
         - effective in improving liver function in pt with
            decompensated cirrhosis. 
—  Adefovir
          - inhibit DNA polymerase
—  Entecavir and Telbivudine
          - decrease viral load
          - used in chronic hepatitis
Prevention
—  Active immunization
            recombinant vaccines containing HBsAg
            i.m. injection at 0, 1 and 6 months.
            1o µg for <1o yrs and 2o µg for >10 yrs.
            recommended- all children along with high risk groups as health
            workers, hemodialysis pts, injection and drug users, hemophiliacs
            sexual contact of HBsAg carriers.
—  Hyperimmune B immunoglobulin (HBIG)
            prepared from blood containing anti-HBs.
            given within 24 hrs or at most a week of exposure.
            dose - 0.06ml/kg
            indication- accidental needle puncture, gross personal
            contamination with infected blood, oral ingestion or
            contamination of mucosal membranes and exposure to cuts
            or grazes.
—  Active-passive immunization
            given together with Hyperimmune globulin
            recommended for post exposure prophylaxis in unvaccinated.
            Perinatal exposure to infants to HBsAg positive mother– a single
            dose of 0.5 ml of HBIG in thigh immediately after birth is followed   
            by 3 doses of vaccine within 12 hrs of birth.
—  Others
           screening of blood donors for HBV infections.
           voluntary blood donation.
           use of sterilized instruments while handling blood and body
           fluids

         


        


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