Viral hepatitis epidemiology

Lemon, S.M. Type A viral hepatitis epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention. Clin. Chemist. 1997 43 1494-1499... 

Viral hepatitis can occur at any age and is the most common cause of liver disease in the world. The true prevalence and incidence may be underreported because most patients are asymptomatic. The epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis vary depending on the type of hepatitis and will be considered separately below. 

Frati, D. Transmission of viral hepatitis by blood and blood derivatives current risks, past heritage. Dig. Dis. Sci. 2002 34 812-817 Fnmpens, R, Grens, E., Nassal, M. Molecular epidemiology and immunology of hepatitis B virus infection. An update. Intervirology... 

Transmission of viral hepatitis continues to be a serious problem related to the transfusion of whole blood, cellular blood components, and to a lesser degree plasma-derived prodncts (8,155). It is difficult and probably impossible to obtain complete data on the true incidence of hepatitis transmitted by blood or blood products the incubation time is long, mild anicteric cases are not recognized, and systematic follow-up studies of transfused patients are difficnlt and expensive (156). In addition, the epidemiology of viral hepatitis is different in different regions. 

Lavanchy, D., Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment, and current and emerging prevention and control measures. J. Viral Hepat., 11, 97—107 (2004). 

Posthepatitic CAH In terms of frequency, chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis viruses (B, C, B/D) clearly predominates. (s. tab. 34.4) Because of their great epidemiological and prognostic relevance, treatment of these viral forms of chronic hepatitis has become a central issue, particularly since the use of newly-developed compounds has facilitated genuine therapeutic success for the first time. Until recently, no antiviral compounds were available - hence, a real breakthrough has now been achieved. 

Siimnonds P, Alberti A, Alter HJ, et al. A proposed systemforthe nomenclature of hepatitis C viral genotypes. Hepatology 1994 19 1321-1324. Heintges T, Wands JR. Hepatitis C virus Epidemiology and transmission. Hepatology 1997 26 521-526. 

Lavanchy D (2004) Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment, and current and emerging prevention and control measures. J Viral Hepatol 11 97-107 Lee WM (1997) Hepatitis B virus infection. N Engl J Med 337(24) 1733-1745 Liaw JF, Chu CM (2009) Hepatitis B virus infection. Lancet 373 582-592 Limentani AE, EUiott LM (1979) An outbreak of hepatitis B from tattooing. Lancet 2 86-88 Lin HH, Kao JH, Chang TC, Hsu HY, Chen DS (2003) Secular trend of age-specific prevalence of hepatitis B surface and e antigenemia in pregnant women in Taiwan. J Med Virol 69 466-470... 

Recently, it has been suggested that viral infections play an important role in cancer or other chronic diseases (Danesh et al., 1997). Evidence for their involvement comes partly from epidemiological studies, focusing on the detection of viruses in (cancer) patients. Herpesviruses, papillomaviruses and hepadnaviruses (Hepatitis B) are all associated with transformation of cells and, along with other factors, initiate oncogenesis (Table 1). CMV has been reported to play a role in artherosclerosis (Persoons et al, 1994). 

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