HBsAg (V2) (hepatitis B - surface antigen or Australian)
Detection of HBsAg (HBS antigen) in the blood is a screening technique to diagnose the hepatitis B. The analysis is based on the fact that when the body comes into contact with the virus, an immune response occurs in the form of the production of special antibodies. HBsAg is a component of the outer shell of the virus, which provokes immunity. That is, the aim of the immune response is to “destroy” HBsAg, through the production of antibodies against HBsAg. Thus, the destruction of the virus occurs upon their contact. Often this antigen can be detected even in the incubation period. Its detection in the blood 6 months after the beginning of the disease is a sign that hepatitis has changed from an acute to a chronic form.
Hepatitis B (“B”) is a viral liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) which is transmitted from person to person by the parenteral mechanism, that is, through infected blood. It is transmitted sexually, from mother to fetus, through contaminated household items and medical equipment (needles, scalpels, scissors, razors, combs, toothpicks, etc.), through blood transfusions. The virus is found in many body fluids, i.e. blood, saliva, urine, semen, vaginal and cerebrospinal fluid, menstrual blood. HBV is considered to be 100 times more contagious (infectious) than HIV! The virus is highly resistant to harsh environments, such as low or high temperatures, acids and alkaline solutions. HBV persists at room temperature for several weeks (e.g. in a dried blood spot on the tip of a needle or razor). In frozen serum, it is preserved for 15 years.
Nevertheless, it is impossible to be infected by hepatitis by holding hands, sharing common plates, kissing or hugging, coughing, sneezing, breastfeeding.
Clinical picture of the disease has several important features:
The incubation period (from infection to the first clinical manifestations) is 60-120 days. The virus penetrates liver cells and inserts its DNA code into the DNA structure of the liver cells. A person's immune system begins to perceive infected cells as a foreign organism and attacks them. As a consequence, inflammation of the liver, i.e. hepatitis, develops. If the immune system copes with the pathogen, the disease is cured. If not, the disease turns into a chronic form.
The course of chronic hepatitis has a wave-like, cyclic nature:
Replication period: reproduction of the virus inside liver cells (hepatocytes). At this stage there are no special clinical manifestations.
Integration period: exit of new viral particles from hepatocytes, their entry into the bloodstream with further transportation to other parts of the liver, penetration into the uninfected areas. During this period there is a bright clinical picture.
Clinical picture of hepatitis B:
The disease begins with general malaise, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain throughout the body, an increase in temperature to 37-38 degrees. Feces become light, urine becomes darker, there is jaundice, first the sclera of the eyes, then the skin. Jaundice is accompanied by a strong itching of the skin. Further development of hepatitis depends on the patient's immunity and timely and adequate therapy.
Chronic viral hepatitis can cause cirrhosis (irreversible severe change) or even liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma.
Serological markers of hepatitis В:
Marker Disease period Recovery period Serological
Status after recovery
Incubation period Acute phase of the decease
Beginning End active
replication end of HBV replication phase
DURATION
4 – 12
weeks 1 – 2
weeks 2 weeks – 3 months 3 – 6 months Many years
HBV-DNA - + + - - -
HBsAg + + + + +/- -
HBeAg - + + - - -
Anti-HBc IgM - - +