title: Hepatitis B viral infection: part I. Clinical features.
abstract: As a result of early basic biomedical research, the hepatitis B virus has become the best understood cause of viral liver infection in man. The virus has a unique antigenic structure and elicits specific antibody responses. A proper understanding of the serologic events during infection is essential for accurate diagnosis and management. Only 50 percent of infected individuals manifest clinical signs of disease, but 5 to 10 percent develop either a chronic asymptomatic antigen carrier state or chronic hepatitis. Some patients progress to cirrhosis and possibly to primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase