What is Hepatitis ? H

What is Hepatitis ?
H
epatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The word comes from a combination of two Greek words:
"Hepatos−" ("liver"), and "−itis" ("inflammation"). The inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) can be
caused by several factors:
− viruses − viral hepatitis is caused by several viruses that attack mainly the liver. The viruses identified
until now have been named as A, B, C, D, E, and G, from which A and E are contagious.
− toxic agents − alcohol, drugs or other chemicals.
− auto−immune disorders.
Chronic Hepatitis
If inflammation and necrosis of hepatocytes persist for more than 6 months we are dealing with chronic
hepatitis.
Based on histological criteria, chronic hepatitis classification is as follows:
• chronic persistent;
• chronic lobular and
• chronic active hepatitis.
A) Chronic Persistent Hepatitis and
Chronic Lobular Hepatitis
They usually follow acute hepatitis B or C. These disorders may persist for years, but are mild and
rarely progress to chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Clinical features for both are :
• vague or no symptoms (anorexia, weakness and nausea)
• clinical signs are absent. Sometimes liver enlargement can be detected
• persistently high transaminase values
Liver biopsy shows:
• Chronic Persistent Hepatitis: portal mononuclear inflammation (portal hepatitis) without
significant fibrosis or acinar disarray (signs of evolution into cirrhosis).
• Chronic Lobular Hepatitis: diffuse lobular inflammation, with features of persisting acute
hepatitis. There is low portal infiltrate. No signs of evolution into cirrhosis.
Treatment is not necessary and natural recovery is usual. However, periodic controls are
recommended.
B) Chronic Active Hepatitis
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It's a serious disorder that has a general tendency to progress to hepatic cirrhosis and possibly even
primary liver cancer.
Histologically it's characterized by:
a) Inflammation
− Initially a lymphocytic portal reaction is present and lymphocytes infiltrate progressively the acini,
causing considerable necrosis of hepatocytes (spotty and confluent necrosis).
b) Fibrosis
Necrosis of hepatocytes causes collapse of the reticular strome that supports liver cells. Then an
irreversible deposition of collagen (fibrosis) occurs. Zones of collapse, fibrosis and abnormal
hepatocellular regeneration (nodular regeneration) lead to distortion of the acinar architecture,
which is characteristic for liver cirrhosis.
The histological activity of Chronic Active Hepatitis is a concept that takes into account both
inflammatory infiltration and hepatocellular damage that lead to fibrosis. Inflammatory activity
defines grade (mild, moderate or severe) of Chronic Active Hepatitis, and therefore its prognosis
(probability of evolution into cirrhosis), and is to a great extent reversible with therapy.
The degrees of fibrosis express the stage reached by Chronic Active Hepatitis into its evolution to
cirrhosis. It is irreversible, but therapy, reducing inflammation, can lessen or stop its progression.
Symptoms and Signs
Patients are usually asymptomatic for a long time. Signs and symptoms often occur when an
advanced histological disease is present. Sometimes symptoms are vague and may be mistaken for
other disease or simply consequences of aging.
The main symptoms are:
• asthenia (70%). Often it gets worse as the day wears on;
• upper abdominal pain or discomfort (20%);
• anorexia;
• weight loss;
• aching joints;
• itching.
Clinical signs are:
• hepatomegaly (70%);
• enlarged, palpable spleen (20%);
• palmar erythema;
• spider nevi;
• ecchymosis;
• fever;
• cirrhosis, jaundice, ascites (abdominal accumulation of liquid), liver failure and coma.
Other organs affected
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In about 20% of cases other organs are affected:
• thyroid gland (thyroiditis);
• eye (Mooren corneal ulceration);
• kidney (membranoproliferativ glomerulonephritis);
• blood vessels (vasculitic syndromes);
and sometimes:
• joints (rheumatoid arthritis)
• lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
Chronic Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection becomes chronic in about 10% of cases. In the natural evolution of
chronic hepatitis B can be distinguished three phases:
• Immune Tolerance
• Immune Clearance
• Non Replicative Infection
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