Chronic hepatitis: symptoms, causes, types, prevention, treatment and likelihood of infection

Chronic hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the hepatic parenchyma, which lasts six months or more. In the mildest cases, the disease does not progress or progress, but slowly. With regard to severe cases, the chronic form leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver.

The following types of this disease are distinguished:

• chronic viral;
• is a chronic autoimmune;
• chronic toxic;
• is an idiopathic chronic.

In addition, hepatitis can develop and metabolic disorders. All their clinical manifestations are very similar to each other.

The so-called chronic persistent hepatitis in the international classification is characterized as nonspecific liver damage, which has a favorable prognosis in the future. This type of disease can be an inactive phase of more active liver disease.

Is chronic hepatitis contagious?

Hepatitis B and C are contagious and transmitted to another person through blood and sexually. Toxic and autoimmune to others are not dangerous.

Chronic autoimmune hepatitis

The most common disease occurs in women. Associated with hypergammaglobulinemia, antigens of the main histocompatibility complex and the following autoimmune syndromes: ulcerative colitis, thyroiditis, Sjogren's syndrome. In this case, serum antibodies characteristic of the disease are determined: anti-LKM, ANA, antibodies to smooth muscles, soluble hepatic pancreatic and hepatic antigens. Antimitochondrial antibodies and serological markers of hepatotropic viruses are absent.

As such, the real factors that trigger an autoimmune process have not yet been established. These include environmental factors and infectious agents. According to serological and clinical manifestations, autoimmune hepatitis is heterogeneous. Unlike viral species, treatment with immunosuppressants and corticosteroid preparations gives a quick positive effect.

Chronic integrative hepatitis

Like persistent, integrative chronic hepatitis has a favorable course. This species usually occurs without obvious manifestations. In some cases, some patients complain of weakness, decreased appetite, mild pain in the liver. In an objective study, patients do not show any significant changes in their condition. But practically always there is a hepatomegaly and in very rare cases an insignificant splenomegaly. The spleen is not enlarged. Usually laboratory parameters remain normal or at the upper limit of the norm, the level of alanine aminotransferase is not increased or slightly increased. As such, there are no changes in the immunological parameters.

Chronic hepatitis: causes of

Until now, the causes of chronic autoimmune hepatitis have not been fully revealed. According to the results of clinical blood tests, autoantibodies to different liver proteins are detected.

The main reasons:

• hereditary predisposition;
• alcohol abuse( toxic species);
• long-term administration of medicines( toxic form) and others.

Drug-provoking drugs are mainly anti-tuberculosis drugs. In addition, there are more than a thousand medical drugs that can induce drug-induced hepatitis. The time from the beginning of the use of medicines to the development of the medicinal species varies from several days to several years.

Chronic hepatitis: symptoms of

The main symptoms of a chronic condition depend on how much the hepatic function is impaired. At the very beginning of the disease, only laboratory indicators can be altered-the increase in liver enzymes( ALT, AST).Already at later stages, when hepatic insufficiency occurs, nausea, general weakness, heaviness in the right hypochondrium, enlargement of the liver and jaundice with skin itching are noted.

Diagnostics. Treatment. Prevention

If suspected of liver damage, the doctor will perform a thorough examination, determining the size of the liver and spleen with the help of palpation of the abdomen. Before visiting a doctor, a list of the medications the patient has taken has recently been drawn up. Further clinical analyzes for the detection of viral hepatitis, a detailed biochemical blood test, as well as liver function( bilirubin, AST, ALT, Gamma-GGT, protein, alkaline phosphatase, albumin and others) and autoantibody analysis are determined. Also, ultrasound of the entire abdominal cavity, liver biopsy and, in some cases, computed tomography.

The method of treatment depends on the variant of chronic hepatitis. In the process of treatment, alpha interferons, cytostatics, glucocorticosteroids, symptomatic therapy are used. As for the autoimmune form, treatment requires hormonal and cytostatic therapy. In especially severe cases, even liver transplantation is performed.

In the treatment of toxic species, the main goal is to eliminate the effects of toxic factor. The liver itself is a unique organ, as it is capable of restoring its functions even after relatively severe lesions. In this regard, the cessation of exposure to toxic agents in conjunction with the use of hepatoprotectors, often allows you to cure the patient.

Prevention is performed only under the supervision of a physician. Its main ways are adherence to diet and diet, as well as drinking of warmed mineral waters such as Essentuki-4, Smirnovskaya, Slavyanovskaya, etc.).The courses are repeated 2 times a year. For prophylactic purposes, cholagogue preparations, hepatoprotectors, enterosorbents are used, and sanatorium-and-spa treatment is performed.

To date, hepatitis B prevention has been developed. Vaccine against hepatitis C and D has not yet been established. Prevention of drug and toxic hepatitis is to comply with the general rules for storage of hepatotropic poisons, as well as the prescription of medicines, given their pharmacokinetics. Prevention of autoimmune hepatitis has not yet been developed.