Hepatitis B virus

Changed by Jeremy Jones, 20 Sep 2021

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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a circular DNA virus endemic in many parts of the world. It is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Clinical presentation

Acute HBV infection is most often subclinical and asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients (~33%) may experience fever, nausea and/or jaundice. Rarely (1%) it causes acute liver failure ³.

Pathology

Route of transmission

The most common route of transmission is regionally-dependent. In endemic areas, vertical transmission from mother to child is more common. In other areas, contaminated needles, blood products, and unprotected sex is more common.

Genotypes

genotype A: sub-Saharan Africa
genotype B: Japan and East Asia
genotype C: China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia
- most closely associated with HCC ²
genotype D: Eastern Europe, North Africa, Russia, Middle East, India
genotype E: West Africa
genotypes F, G, H: Central and South America

Treatment and prognosis

Vaccination programs have been effective in many parts of the world to decrease the incidence of disease.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B may benefit from a hepatocellular carcinoma screening program.

Related pathology

Acute infection with the hepatitis B virus may result in acute hepatitis.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The patient may either be cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic.

-<p><strong>Hepatitis B virus (HBV)</strong> is a circular DNA virus endemic in many parts of the world. It is a risk factor for the development of <a href="/articles/hepatocellular-carcinoma">hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Acute HBV infection is most often <a title="Subclinical disease" href="/articles/subclinical-disease">subclinical</a> and asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients (~33%) may experience fever, nausea and/or jaundice. Rarely (1%) it causes <a href="/articles/acute-liver-failure">acute liver failure</a> <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Route of transmission</h5><p>The most common route of transmission is regionally-dependent. In endemic areas, vertical transmission from mother to child is more common. In other areas, contaminated needles, blood products, and unprotected sex is more common.</p><h5>Genotypes</h5><ul>
+<p><strong>Hepatitis B virus (HBV)</strong> is a circular DNA virus endemic in many parts of the world. It is a risk factor for the development of <a href="/articles/hepatocellular-carcinoma">hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Acute HBV infection is most often <a href="/articles/subclinical-disease-1">subclinical</a> and asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients (~33%) may experience fever, nausea and/or jaundice. Rarely (1%) it causes <a href="/articles/acute-liver-failure">acute liver failure</a> <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Route of transmission</h5><p>The most common route of transmission is regionally-dependent. In endemic areas, vertical transmission from mother to child is more common. In other areas, contaminated needles, blood products, and unprotected sex is more common.</p><h5>Genotypes</h5><ul>

References changed:

1. Lafaro K, Demirjian A, Pawlik T. Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2015;24(1):1-17. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2014.09.001">doi:10.1016/j.soc.2014.09.001</a>
2. McMahon B. The Influence of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype and Subgenotype on the Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis B. Hepatol Int. 2008;3(2):334-42. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-008-9112-z">doi:10.1007/s12072-008-9112-z</a>
3. Liang T. Hepatitis B: The Virus and Disease. Hepatology. 2009;49(S5):S13-21. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.22881">doi:10.1002/hep.22881</a>
1. Lafaro KJ, Demirjian AN, Pawlik TM. Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Surg. Oncol. Clin. N. Am. 2015;24 (1): 1-17. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2014.09.001">doi:10.1016/j.soc.2014.09.001</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25444466">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
2. McMahon BJ. The influence of hepatitis B virus genotype and subgenotype on the natural history of chronic hepatitis B. Hepatol Int. 2009;3 (2): 334-42. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12072-008-9112-z">doi:10.1007/s12072-008-9112-z</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716762">Free text at pubmed</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19669359">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
3. Liang TJ. Hepatitis B: the virus and disease. Hepatology. 2009;49 (S5): S13-21. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.22881">doi:10.1002/hep.22881</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809016">Free text at pubmed</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19399811">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>