Infectious and parasitic diseases

HIV infection and AIDS

HIV infection is caused by one of two retroviruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) that destroy CD4+ lymphocytes and disrupt the cellular immune response, thereby increasing the risk of certain infections and tumors. Initially, infection may manifest itself as a non-specific febrile fever. The likelihood of subsequent manifestations depends on the degree of immunodeficiency and is proportional to the level of CD4+ lymphocytes. Manifestations range from asymptomatic course to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

SEN infection

SEN virus, a candidate for inclusion in the alphabet of viral hepatitis, was discovered in 1999 in the serum of an HIV-infected patient with elevated ALT and AST activity and negative serum test results for HAV, HGV and TTV markers. It was designated by the initials of this patient.

TTV infection

The name "transfusion transmitted virus" - a virus transmitted by transfusion (TTV) indicates its initial detection in patients with post-transfusion hepatitis. TTV belongs to the Circoviridae family. The virion is a particle without an envelope, 30-50 nm in size, consisting of a single-stranded DNA of a ring-shaped structure containing 3852 nucleotides. The presence of hypervariable and conservative regions of viral DNA has been established.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C (viral hepatitis C) is an anthroponotic infectious disease with a contact mechanism of transmission of the pathogen, characterized by a mild or subclinical course of the acute period of the disease, frequent formation of chronic hepatitis C, possible development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chronic hepatitis B with delta agent

Chronic hepatitis B with delta agent is more severe in most cases than hepatitis B uncomplicated by delta virus. There is evidence that viral factors (genotype) may largely determine the course of the disease. In general, unlike chronic hepatitis B and viral hepatitis C, in which at least 70-50% of patients live their lives without developing liver cirrhosis, 100% of patients with chronic viral hepatitis D inevitably develop liver cirrhosis within 15-30 years from the moment of infection in the absence of treatment.

Hepatitis D - Treatment

All patients with acute delta virus infection are subject to hospitalization. Pathogenetic therapy is carried out, as with viral hepatitis B, taking into account the severity of clinical manifestations. Due to the direct cytopathic effect of HDV, corticosteroids are contraindicated.

Hepatitis D - Diagnosis

Specific diagnostics of hepatitis D is based on the detection of markers of active replication of both viruses: HBV, HDV. From the first days of jaundice, HBsAg, anti-HBV IgM in high titer, HBe antigen, HDAg and/or anti-delta (anti-delta IgM) are detected in the blood serum. Anti-delta IgM is produced already in the acute period and serves as the main marker of delta infection.

Hepatitis D - Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of hepatitis developing as a result of coinfection are extremely similar to those of acute hepatitis B. The incubation period is from 6 to 10 weeks; a cyclical course is characteristic.

Hepatitis D - Causes and Pathogenesis

In 1977, a group of Italian researchers discovered a previously unknown antigen in the hepatocytes of patients with viral hepatitis B. It was assumed that this was the 4th antigen of the B virus (by analogy with the already known antigens HBs, HBc, HBe), and in connection with this it was named the 4th letter of the Greek alphabet - delta. Subsequently, experimental infection of chimpanzees with blood serum containing the delta antigen proved that this was a new virus. At the suggestion of the WHO, the causative agent of viral hepatitis D was named hepatitis delta virus - HDV.

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D (hepatitis delta, hepatitis B with delta agent) is a viral hepatitis with a contact mechanism of pathogen transmission, caused by a defective virus, the replication of which is possible only in the presence of HBsAg in the body. The disease is characterized by a severe course and an unfavorable prognosis. ICD-10 codes.