| Hepatitis B: diagnosis and treatment. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20387772 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Although an estimated 1 million persons in the United States are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, the prevalence of hepatitis B has declined since the implementation of a national vaccination program. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted in blood and secretions. Acute infection may cause nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low-grade fever, jaundice, and dark urine; and clinical signs, such as hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Fewer than 5 percent of adults acutely infected with hepatitis B virus progress to chronic infection. The diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection requires the evaluation of the patient's blood for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody. The goals of treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection are to reduce inflammation of the liver and to prevent complications by suppressing viral replication. Treatment options include pegylated interferon alfa-2a administered subcutaneously or oral antiviral agents (nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors). Persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection should be monitored for disease activity with liver enzyme tests and hepatitis B virus DNA levels; considered for liver biopsy; and entered into a surveillance program for hepatocellular carcinoma. |
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Authors:
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Thad Wilkins; Dave Zimmerman; Robert R Schade |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Patient Education Handout |
Journal Detail:
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Title: American family physician Volume: 81 ISSN: 1532-0650 ISO Abbreviation: Am Fam Physician Publication Date: 2010 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-04-14 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 1272646 Medline TA: Am Fam Physician Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 965-72 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. twilkins@mcg.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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