We're joined by Dr. Karen Shackelford from BoardVitals as we talk about hepatitis and how antigens and antibodies appear and disappear during the course of infection.
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A 45-year-old male presents a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms and yellowing eyes which he thought looks scary to him when he saw his reflection on the mirror. His past medical history reveals positive Hepatitis B infection and his lab's elevated ALT and AST levels.
The consult suspects that he may not be superinfected with Hepatitis D. Hepatitis D virus can only propagate in the presence of Hepatitis B. The presence of which of the following components of Hepatitis B viral protein is necessary to allow Hepatitis D infection?
(A) HpX (pX antigen)
(B) Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg)
(C) Hepatitis B surface antigen
(D) Hepatitis B e-antigen
(E) Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase
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The correct answer here is C. Remember the actual viral structures. Hepatitis D envelops single-stranded RNA virus. It can't make its own surface antigens. So it requires Hepatitis B surface antigen.
Hepatitis D can only be acquired either by co-infection or superinfection of an HPV carrier of co-infection. But this only resolves in 2% of the cases. HPV is a virulent pathogen.
Superinfection results in chronic hepatitis in over 90% of cases. Often, hepatitis with rapid progression of cirrhosis in about 80% of cases.
But the influx of this type of viral infection has significantly declined since the development and widespread use of the Hepatitis B vaccine. However, this is still a problem in developing countries.
In a lot of underdeveloped countries, it's passed on through migrants from more developed countries. It's therefore important for people to be aware of their Hepatitis B immunity and their potential for this really virulent superinfection.
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Hepatitis pX is pX protein of Hepatitis B virus. It's implicated in viral transcription, replication, and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma through the expression of this X protein gene.
The core antigen is the indicator of active viral replication. It's also a determinant of whether an individual is able to transmit the infection. But this is not the necessary component for the protein.
Hepatitis B e-antigen can act as a marker of our replication infectivity but this isn't the necessary component either.
Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase is not necessary for HPV to replicate. HPV is the host hepatocyte, while the polymerase works to produce that complementary RNA.
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