hepatic and biliary disorders
Hepatitis B, Acute
Introduction
Hepatitis B is caused by a DNA virus that is often parenterally transmitted. It causes typical symptoms of viral hepatitis, including anorexia, malaise, and jaundice. Fulminant hepatitis and death may occur. Chronic infection can lead to cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagnosis is by serologic testing. Treatment is supportive. Vaccination is protective and postexposure use ofhepatitis B immune globulinmay prevent or attenuate clinical disease. (See also Causes of Hepatitis , Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most thoroughly characterized and complex hepatitis virus. The infective particle consists of a viral core plus an outer surface coat. The core contains circular double-stranded DNA and DNA polymerase, and it replicates within the nuclei of infected hepatocytes. A surface coat is added in the cytoplasm and, for unknown reasons, is produced in great excess. HBV is the 2nd most common cause of Overview of Acute Viral Hepatitis after HBV is sometimes associated with several primarily extrahepatic disorders, including Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) , other connective tissue diseases, Occasionally, coinfection with hepatitis D occurs. 