Chronic Hep A ?

[DEBMOM]

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago. I could not find my old post. So, here are some highlights: I was admitted to the hospital on 10/4 with jaundice. I work as a nurse and was told by my colleagues that I looked really yellow. I had been feeling very, very fatigued, itchy and generally lousy. No sore throats, fevers. Intermittent nausea and vomitting. I have not been exposed to anything and no needlesticks. I took Levaquin 2 months ago for a sinus infections for 5 days. I have taken it before several times. I did have some nausea (no vomitting) a few days befoer the jaundice appeared.

In the hospital, my ASt at the highest (it went up and down a couple of time but never below 1000) was 1438. ALT the same. Total bilirubin was 14. I had an ultrasound which was unremarkable. Dopple of the biliary ducts, normal.

I have tested negative for Hep A (I tested positive for havinf been exposed at one point), B, and C. Negative for mono spot, CMV, ANA,Anti-mitocho and Anti-smooth M.

My levels have started to drop. They are now steady at AST/ALT 456. Bilibrubin 8.9 for the past 2 weeks.

I am scheduled for a liver bx on 11/14.

I am constantly tired. My job is very physical and I cannot go back to work. I tried one day and almost passed out halfway thru my shift. I still have periods on nausea and vomitting. MY joints ache. I am on Reglan which isn't doing much. I still have itching. However, I am hardly yellow anymore.

My GI doctor is saying it may be chronic HEp A which may not show up on the Hep A blood test? I have never heard of this.

Any thoughts?

[shawn_hsp]

I don't think there is such thing as chronic hep A, since its transmission is via consuming contaminated food/water or eating with unwashed hands after going to toilet...

[mikesimon]

Why not try to see the hepatologist before the biopsy? I think I would feel more comfortable with a hepatologist involved right away. I see that your BX is Nov 14 but you might be able to get seen quickly with your enzymes and bilirubin in the range that they have been. Good luck. Mike

[DEBMOM]

It was my GI who told me this. I never heard of it either. I am going to go to a heptalogist after my liver biopsy. thanks.

[DEBMOM]

A friend of my husbands at work knows a liver specialist at a big hospital here in Philadelphia. She is trying to get me an appt with him. I tried with another one but it takes 3 months to get an appointment.

I just never heard of chronic Hep A and I know that you guys on this board are very knowledgable about hepatitis.

thank you for the advice.

[Kalio1]

Sorry you have been so sick, hope you feel better soon.
I'd definately get another opinion and see a liver specialist, a Heptologist or a Gstroentrologist at least. You need further testing and evaluation. I don't think there is such a thing as "chronic hep a" I believe hep a is always acute, here is a quote from a hepatitis site:

"Hepatitis A: Formally known as infectious hepatitis, this form is always acute and never becomes chronic. Hep A is transmitted by contact with infected feces or food and water that has been contaminated. Often Hep A is a result of poor hand washing techniques among food preparation workers at restaurants. The risk of contracting Hep A can be reduced with a series of vaccines."