Re: Needing an answer

[Guest guest]

Hi Nikki;

I hope that this answers your question:

http://www.gastroresource.com/gitextbook/en/chapter14/14-5.htm

5. Chronic Hepatitis / V.G. Bain and M. Ma page 492

The term chronic hepatitis means active, ongoing inflammation of the

liver persisting for more than six months that is detectable by

biochemical and histologic means. It does not imply an etiology. The

biochemical hallmark of chronic hepatitis is an increased serum

aminotransferase (AST and ALT) with minimal elevation of alkaline

phosphatase. When the inflammation is severe and/or prolonged,

hepatic dysfunction may become apparent with an increase in serum

bilirubin and INR/prothrombin time, and a decrease in serum albumin.

Typically, biochemical tests are used to identify and follow patients

with chronic hepatitis, while liver biopsies serve to more precisely

define the nature of the chronic hepatitis and provide useful

information regarding the extent of damage and prognosis.

Histologically, chronic hepatitis is characterized by infiltration of

the portal tracts by inflammatory cells. These cells are

predominantly mononuclear cells including lymphocytes, monocytes and

plasma cells. Chronic hepatitis is designated as mild when the

infiltrate is confined to the portal triad (Figure 9). It is

designated as moderately severe chronic hepatitis (Figure 10) when

the infiltrate extends into the parenchyma (piecemeal necrosis) and

when it extends to adjacent portal triads (bridging). The

inflammatory process can also " bridge " from the portal tract to the

central vein. Severe chronic hepatitis is associated with

multilobular or confluent necrosis and is much more likely to

progress to cirrhosis. The amount of fibrosis is staged separately.

These newer terms, mild, moderate and severe chronic hepatitis,

replace the older terminology including chronic persistent hepatitis

and chronic active hepatitis, which are still frequently mentioned in

older textbooks.

By far, the commonest cause of chronic hepatitis is viral infections

of the liver. Other causes include autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced

hepatitis, 's disease, a1-antitrypsin deficiency and

steatohepatitis. Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing

cholangitis may occasionally mimic chronic hepatitis, but are not

usually classified as such. An approach to help determine the

etiology of chronic hepatitis is summarized in Table 7.

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (22); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

> I have a question..Is Chronic Hepatitis the same as PSC or is it

two different diagnosis' or does PSC cause Chronic hepatitis or vise

versa?

[Guest guest]

Hi Nikki;

I hope that this answers your question:

http://www.gastroresource.com/gitextbook/en/chapter14/14-5.htm

5. Chronic Hepatitis / V.G. Bain and M. Ma page 492

The term chronic hepatitis means active, ongoing inflammation of the

liver persisting for more than six months that is detectable by

biochemical and histologic means. It does not imply an etiology. The

biochemical hallmark of chronic hepatitis is an increased serum

aminotransferase (AST and ALT) with minimal elevation of alkaline

phosphatase. When the inflammation is severe and/or prolonged,

hepatic dysfunction may become apparent with an increase in serum

bilirubin and INR/prothrombin time, and a decrease in serum albumin.

Typically, biochemical tests are used to identify and follow patients

with chronic hepatitis, while liver biopsies serve to more precisely

define the nature of the chronic hepatitis and provide useful

information regarding the extent of damage and prognosis.

Histologically, chronic hepatitis is characterized by infiltration of

the portal tracts by inflammatory cells. These cells are

predominantly mononuclear cells including lymphocytes, monocytes and

plasma cells. Chronic hepatitis is designated as mild when the

infiltrate is confined to the portal triad (Figure 9). It is

designated as moderately severe chronic hepatitis (Figure 10) when

the infiltrate extends into the parenchyma (piecemeal necrosis) and

when it extends to adjacent portal triads (bridging). The

inflammatory process can also " bridge " from the portal tract to the

central vein. Severe chronic hepatitis is associated with

multilobular or confluent necrosis and is much more likely to

progress to cirrhosis. The amount of fibrosis is staged separately.

These newer terms, mild, moderate and severe chronic hepatitis,

replace the older terminology including chronic persistent hepatitis

and chronic active hepatitis, which are still frequently mentioned in

older textbooks.

By far, the commonest cause of chronic hepatitis is viral infections

of the liver. Other causes include autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced

hepatitis, 's disease, a1-antitrypsin deficiency and

steatohepatitis. Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing

cholangitis may occasionally mimic chronic hepatitis, but are not

usually classified as such. An approach to help determine the

etiology of chronic hepatitis is summarized in Table 7.

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (22); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

> I have a question..Is Chronic Hepatitis the same as PSC or is it

two different diagnosis' or does PSC cause Chronic hepatitis or vise

versa?