title: The biology of viral hepatitis.
abstract: Dramatic advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of the major viral diseases of the liver have been made. Hepatitis B and A viruses have been identified, with specific diagnostic serologic assays commercially available for these infections. The diagnosis of non-A, non-B hepatitis is currently made by exclusion. Morphological alterations in viral hepatitis are similar, regardless of the etiologic agent. Chronic viral hepatitis may be associated with hepatitis B and non-A, non-B, but not with hepatitis A. Persistent infection with hepatitis B virus is associated with an increased incidence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Viruses similar to the hepatitis B virus cause the same spectrum of liver disease in certain animals. With the development of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus infection, it may be possible to prevent a large proportion of worldwide chronic liver disease, as well as primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human; D006507:Hepatovirus; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007114:Immunization; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens