Liver Virus Disease
Introduction
Acute viral hepatitis is common throughout the world. Most cases of acute viral hepatitis resolve on their own, but some persist and progress to chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis is a major cause of chronic liver injury and subsequent complications, such as liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Viruses that primarily attack the liver are called hepatitis viruses. There are several types of hepatitis viruses including types A, B, C, D, E and G. They belong to different families. All hepatitis viruses can cause acute hepatitis. Other viruses can also cause liver inflammation, including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and yellow fever.
Types of Hepatitis Viruses
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
- Hepatitis E
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, short-term liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A usually does not become chronic. Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A with a lifelong immunity. However, a very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A could die from fulminant hepatitis.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV infection can be acute or chronic. Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection and can cause cirrhosis (hardening or scarring), liver cancer and even death.
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver. About 2.4 million people in the U.S. have the disease. Hepatitis C can cause an acute or chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C infection can lead to serious health problems like liver cancer or cirrhosis.
Hepatitis D is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). HDV causes a unique infection that requires the assistance of HBV viral particles to replicate and infect hepatocytes. And HDV causes more severe liver disease than having chronic HBV infection alone. Chronic hepatitis D is a long-lasting infection which causes severe symptoms and serious illness that can lead to life-long liver damage and even death.
Hepatitis E is inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). Acute hepatitis E is a short-term infection. In most cases, hepatitis E goes away on its own in about 4-6 weeks. It is associated with a higher mortality rate compared to acute HAV infection. HEV infection can cause high mortality in pregnant females.
Fig.1 Evolutionary origins of hepatitis viruses. (Rasche, 2019)
What Can We Offer
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Reference
- Rasche, A.; et al. Evolutionary biology of human hepatitis viruses. J Hepatol. 2019, 70(3): 501-520.
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