What are Chronic Hepatitis B and Chronic Hepatitis C?
Chronic hepatitis B and C are long-term infections of the liver that develop after a bout of acute hepatitis and defined as elevated serum transaminase levels for a period of more than 6 months. They include chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and chronic carrier state. Chronic persistent hepatitis is usually asymptomatic, although some report fatigue, anorexia, or abdominal pain. Results of liver function testing are only mildly abnormal. The clinical course is benign. Chronic active hepatitis features chronic inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis bridging portal areas or between portal areas and central vein. The disease may progress to cirrhosis, and on physical examination patients may have splenomegaly, spider angiomata, caput medusae, and other signs of chronic liver disease. Chronic carrier state for hepatitis B surface antigen exists in 0.2% of the population of the United States. A carrier state also may exist for hepatitis C since blood donated by apparently
