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Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A Overview

Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver. Inflammation of the liver can result from infection, from exposure to alcohol, certain medications, chemicals, or poisons, or from a disorder of the immune system.

Hepatitis A refers to liver inflammation caused by infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is one of several viruses that can cause hepatitis and is one of the 3 most common hepatitis viruses in the United States. The other 2 are hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Unlike hepatitis B and hepatitis C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic (ongoing, long-term) disease. Although the liver does become inflamed and swollen, it heals completely in most people without any long-term damage. Once you have had hepatitis A, you develop lifelong immunity and cannot get the disease again.

Because of the way it is spread, the hepatitis A virus tends to occur in epidemics and outbreaks. As many as 1 in 3 people in the United States have antibody to HAV, meaning they have been exposed to the virus, but most do not become ill. The number of cases of hepatitis A in the United States varies among different communities and has not been affected significantly by the introduction of the hepatitis A vaccine since the early 1990s.



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Hepatitis A

Liver Biopsy Overview

A liver biopsy is a procedure whereby small pieces of liver tissue are removed in order to be sent to a laboratory for examination. It is very helpful in the diagnosis of diseases that affect the liver.

There are several potential approaches to procuring tissue for a liver biopsy. These are discussed below.

Percutaneous Liver Biopsy

In a percutaneous liver biopsy procedure, local anesthesia is used to numb the skin where a small incision is made. A needle the diameter of a pen refill is then passed through the skin and into the liver, where a specimen is obtained. Multiple biopsies may be taken. In these circumstances, the physician establishes where the liver lies by percussing or tapping on the skin overlying the liver and listening to the sound to find an area of dullness, under which the liver lies. Patient cooperation is critical during the procedure.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Liver Biopsy/...

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Hepatitis A »

One of the more common causes of acute hepatitis is hepatitis A virus (HAV).

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