IMMUNOPATHOGENESIS AND DIAGNOSIS OF CHONIC HEPATITIS

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis represents a series of liver disorders of varymg causes and severity m which hepatic inflammation and necrosis continue for at least 6 months.. Immunopathogenesis of HBV infection depends on the integrated activities of the patient cellular and humoral immune system and the cytokine net work. There are many factors that may lead to HBV persistence, some of which are viral related and others are host related. In chronic HBV infection, persistent HBsAg in the serum for more than 6 months is the characteristic diagnostic marker of chronicity while HBeAg and HBV DNA are the markers of viral replication. Both HBV antigens and antibodies can be detected using (RIA) and (BIAs) which• had largely replaced RIAs. Determination of HBV DNA level in serum is becoming a part of serological profile for assessing patients with chronic HBV infection. HCV is the commonest cause of post transfusion hepatitis and one of the major causes of chronic liver • disease as the chronicity rate reaches 50%. The liver damage associated with HCV infection mediated in part by the host immune response.