Hepatitis Virus Infections and Serological Markers

A 26 year old nurse developed fatigue, a low grade fever, polyarthritis and urticaria. Two months earlier she had cared for a patient with hepatitis. Which of the following findings are likely to be observed in this nurse?

elevated AST and ALT levels

Why does vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) also prevent hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections?

HDV requires the host to be concurrently infected with HBV

A 36-year-old male presents to a free clinic with symptoms of anorexia, malaise, vomiting, abdominal pain, and mild jaundice. The patient is a known IV drug abuser. The physician orders liver function tests and an acute hepatitis serum panel. The laboratory reports the following results: anti-HAV IgM = not detected; HBsAg = not detected; anti-HBc IgM = not detected; anti-HBc total = not detected; anti-HBs = detected; anti-HCV = detected. These findings are consistent with:

acute hepatitis C

Serological marker of HBV infection that indicates recovery and immunity.

anti-HBs

Tests recommended for a patient with nausea, abdominal pain, fever, malaise, dark urine, clay-colored stool, and jaundice.

hepatitis A, B, and C

First antibody detected in serum after infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Anti-HBc IgM

Which of the following statements regarding infection with hepatitis D virus is true?

Occurs in patients with hepatitis B

Refer to the data: HBsAg =, anti-HBc IgM + , anti-HAV IgM =, what can be concluded about this patient

acute hepatitis B

A serum sample is positive for HBsAg. This result indicates that the person from whom the serum was taken

Has either active or chronic hepatitis B infection

Which types of hepatitis are transmitted primarily through contact with blood or other body fluids?

Hepatitis B, C, and D

A patient has a hepatitis B profile performed and is positive for hepatitis B surface antibody only. This patient:

was vaccinated against hepatitis B

Which hepatitis antibody confers immunity against reinfection with hepatitis B virus?

Anti-HBs

Which test, other than serological markers, is most consistently elevated in viral hepatitis?

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Chronic carriers of HBV

continue to carry HBV

A patient has the following hepatitis profile: anti-HAV IgM = not detected; HBsAg = not detected; anti-HBc IgM = not detected; anti-HBc total = not detected; anti-HBs = detected; anti-HCV = not detected. What is his diagnosis?

Immune to hepatitis B

Which of the following statements is true of infection with hepatitis B?

Anti-HBc is the first detectable antibody in serum

All of the following hepatitis viruses are spread through blood or blood products except:

Hepatitis A

Which hepatitis B marker is the best indicator of early acute infection?

HBsAg

The disappearance of HBsAg and HBeAg the persistence of anti HBc, the appearance of anti HBs and often of anti HBe indicate:

recovery phase of acute HBV hepatitis
carrier sate of acute HBV hepatitis

Liver damage in hepatitis can be measured by measuring which of the following?

ALT, AST, ALP

Hepatitis C differs from hepatitis A because it

is associated with a high incidence of the chronic carrier state

A patient has the following serologic profile: HBsAg = negative; HBeAg = negative; anti-HBc IgM = negative; anti-HBc IgG = positive; anti-HBs = positive; anti-HBe = positive. These results indicate:

past infection with hepatitis B

Which hepatitis antibody confers immunity against reinfection with hepatitis B virus?

Anti-HBs

Which of the following serologic test results indicate that a patient is a chronic carrier of hepatitis B?

HBsAb negative; HBsAg positive for 12 months

A patient was diagnosed with acute hepatitis B infection 9 months ago. Follow-up testing performed today obtains these results: anti-HAV IgM = not detected; HBsAg = not detected; anti-HBc IgM = not detected; anti-HBc total = detected; anti-HBs = detected; anti-HCV = not detected. What is the diagnosis now?

Convalescent hepatitis B

What is the most likely explanation when a patient has clinical signs of viral hepatitis but tests negative for hepatitis A IgM, hepatitis B surface antigen, and hepatitis C Ab?

The patient may be in the "core window"

A newborn infant tests positive for anti-HBc IgG. This result is evidence that:

the mother was infected with hepatitis B.

Hepatitis D is a

satellite virus that infects with hepatitis B

A car accident occurred right outside the hospital. Your friend Eddie who works in administration ran to the accident victim. He pressed a bandana over the cut on the victim's arm that was spurting blood until the emergency crew came. The victim was positive for hepatitis Be antigen. Is Eddie, who has not been vaccinated, at risk?

Yes, HBeAg indicates that the patient is infectious.

What assay would confirm the immune status to hepatitis B virus?

Anti-HBs

A patient named Lily who works at an area sushi restaurant is looking rather yellow and feels acutely ill. She loves raw seafood and had a special treat when a customer brought her some sushi from Southeast Asia. The customer is also ill. Lily is given her test results; she has non-A non-B hepatitis. She most likely has

Hepatitis E

Your friend Lizbeth received her hepatitis B vaccine 2 years ago. She had her titer checked and she had a great immune response. This morning she got a needle stick from a patient with fulminant hepatitis B and hepatitis D. The source patient tested negative for hepatitis C and HIV. What should Lizbeth do?

relax because she is not at risk

Which hepatitis B markers should be performed on blood products?

HBsAg and anti-HBc

The antigen marker most likely closely associated with transmissibility of HBV infection is:

HBeAg

Which of the following is the best indicator of an acute infection with the hepatitis A virus?

the presence of IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus

28 year old female complaints to her family physician of abdominal pain, loss of appetite and low grade fever. Physical examination reveals abdominal tenderness and low grade fever. Her physician orders a hepatitis profile and obtain these results Anti - HAV: nonreactive, Anti - HBc: reactive, Anti - HBs: nonreactive, HBsAg: reactive, HBeAg: reactive, Anti-HCV: nonreactive. Which of the following is the most likely conclusion?

Chronic HBV infection

What constitutes a diagnosis of viral hepatitis?

Abnormal test results for liver enzymes
Clinical signs and symptoms
positive results for hepatitis markers

This virus is said to be a quasi-species because of its high mutation rate. It is

Hepatitis C

If only anti-HBS is positive, which of the following can be ruled out?

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection