title: Diagnosis and treatment of the major hepatotropic viruses.
abstract: The hepatotropic viruses currently include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, and are associated with a spectrum of acute and chronic liver disease syndromes. The epidemiology and natural history of each are discussed, with emphasis on uncommon or newly recognized clinical presentations. The serodiagnosis of hepatitis A, B, and D is well established; the serodiagnosis of hepatitis C and E continues to evolve as serologic and virologic assays become refined. Hepatitis A and E only cause acute liver injury; current medical approaches therefore focus on vaccination strategies. Hepatitis B, C, and D can cause both acute and chronic liver injury. Sequelae of chronic liver disease, including portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma, are not uncommon. Medical therapy of resulting chronic liver disease currently consists of interferon, though other anti-viral strategies are being explored. Advanced chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B, C, or D can be treated by orthotopic liver transplantation, but viral recurrence is near uniform and can be problematic. Further study of the hepatotropic viruses at the molecular biologic, epidemiologic, and clinical levels will continue to provide greater insight into the diagnosis and management of their associated clinical syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kiyasu
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans