■臨床医のために
ウイルス性肝炎：A型からE型まで
勝田 悌実, 古明地 弘和
日本医科大学付属病院第一内科, 肝臓内科
Viral Hepatitis through A to E
Yasumi Katsuta and Hirokazu Komeichi
First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School
Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of acute and chronic hepatitis. The term viral hepatitis generally refers to infections resulting from one of the hepatotrophic viruses: hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E. These viruses can be broadly divided into those transmitted via the fecal-oral route (hepatitis A and hepatitis E), and those by blood, blood products and body fluids (hepatitis B, C and D). Hepatitis A, B and C represent the major public health problems. In the case of HAV, older age groups (over 50) are now deemed at risk. Hepatitis E is rarely reported in Japan, and most Japanese patients have been recognized as an imported infection. Recently, however, the presence of indigenous HEV (genotypes III and IV) and its animal reservoirs have been disclosed in our country. The epidemiology of hepatitis B is changing in response to vaccination particularly in preventing vertical (maternal) transmission. Hepatitis C is another important cause of death worldwide. The infection easily becomes refractory and the chronicity contributes to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Development of sensitive and specific immunoassays, as well as polymerase chain reaction for recognition of viral genes, has enabled detection of specific agents. This has allowed for identification of infected patients and monitoring response to therapy. Additionally, serologic markers have allowed for isolation of contaminated blood products and a reduction in the spread of disease. No approved test is available to diagnose hepatitis E. This article briefly explores the outline of the risk factors, epidemiology, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and treatment of the hepatotrophic viral infections.
日医大医会誌 2005; 1(4), 189-194
Key words
viral hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, hepatitis E, healthy carrier, sero-conversion
Correspondence to
Yasumi Katsuta, MD, First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
E-mail：ykatsuta@nms.ac.jp
受付：2005年8月1日 受理：2005年9月12日 |
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