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Besides the liver, what does the virus of hepatitis attack?
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical Care
|March 1, 1982
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause serious, sometimes fatal, extrahepatic syndromes that may appear unrelated to liver disease. Early diagnosis is crucial for potential antiviral treatment of these HBV-associated conditions.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Clinical Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Viral hepatitis B can manifest with extrahepatic syndromes, affecting various organ systems.
- These syndromes are often misdiagnosed or attributed to other causes due to a lack of apparent liver disease.
Observation:
- Patients may present with symptoms like arthritis, rash, vasculitis, or nephritis.
- Extrahepatic manifestations can occur even with occult or inactive hepatitis B virus infection.
Findings:
- Hepatitis B virus is an underrecognized cause of various autoimmune-like and inflammatory conditions.
- Previously considered idiopathic, these severe syndromes are now linked to hepatitis B virus.
Implications:
- Recognizing these syndromes is vital for accurate diagnosis and timely intervention.
- The advent of antiviral therapies offers new treatment possibilities for these severe extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis B.