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What's the difference between Active and Chronic Hep B?
I found out a month ago I had hepititis B. I had severe liver pain, and severe itching. Which led the doctors to a liver biopsy. According to the dr that called with the results she called it "active hepatitis b" however after seeing the actual results it said chronic hepititis b. Is there a difference?
Here are some things that may help. My enzyme levels at the time of the biopsy were over 2000 on one and 800 on the other. According to what the dr said when she explain the biopsy results I have severe liver damage, more than what they were expecting. I also have the Epstien-Barr virus showing on one of the many tests they have done. This is about all the information I know of other than my symptoms. Please help! Thanks!
Here are some things that may help. My enzyme levels at the time of the biopsy were over 2000 on one and 800 on the other. According to what the dr said when she explain the biopsy results I have severe liver damage, more than what they were expecting. I also have the Epstien-Barr virus showing on one of the many tests they have done. This is about all the information I know of other than my symptoms. Please help! Thanks!
Ok I figured out most of the tests but the Ceruloplasmin. It doesn't appear to me that they have given me as many tests as they should have unless the opted to keep them out of the records I requested, like the liver biopsy results.
I'm not sure how to read these tests. Here's what I have:
Anti HBcore: Reactive
EBV, Ab VCA, IgG: Positive at 3099 normal less than 20
Ceruloplasmin: 55 considered high normal 18-53
Um, so what does that mean in english? I think from what you said that would mean I am a carrier ie chronic, sorry this stuff is just so confusing. Thanks again!
Anti HBcore: Reactive
EBV, Ab VCA, IgG: Positive at 3099 normal less than 20
Ceruloplasmin: 55 considered high normal 18-53
Um, so what does that mean in english? I think from what you said that would mean I am a carrier ie chronic, sorry this stuff is just so confusing. Thanks again!
when you see the specialist, i'm sure they'll want to test you to see if you're acute or chronic carrier. it'll likely be the Anti-HBc IGM test. If this is positive, then you likely have had the virus less than 6 months and may be able to fight off the virus.
check out this website if you have some time... it gives an overview at the bottom of lab results and how to interpret them...
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm
keep us posted...
leeac
check out this website if you have some time... it gives an overview at the bottom of lab results and how to interpret them...
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm
keep us posted...
leeac
Ps new liver results in. ALT was 1611 on the 1st and now is 164 from the test on the 12th. My AST was 740 on the 1st and 68 on the 12th. Down quite a bit, thank goodness however I still have a lot of liver pain. I am awaiting to see the new dr on the 26th. Thanks everyone for your help and support.
Thanks very much for your reply. I just got very confused because if you do a google search on "active hep b" it comes up as chronic. I have already been reffered to a GI specialist at a clinic that only handles GI problem patients. I don't see the new doctor until the 26th and each time I ask my previous clinic questions I can't get straight answers. IE: The last time I was in on the 12th, I asked if I could see the liver biopsy results, in which I saw chronic hep b on it. Mind you I only saw them for like 40 seconds. I asked the dr about this and it was kind of an "off the record" kind of thing. She said she thinks that I had hep b a while ago and then got the epstien barr virus that got the hep b going again... my definition of that would be chronic, no? yet all the paper stuff from my visits still says accute hep b? I've gone thru a hell of a time with this blasted clinic, this dr I was reffering to is my regular dr. The dr that ordered the biopsy was the GI specialist of that clinic, and is now conviently on vacation for several weeks. It's just been a crazy mess since the start. I got the feeling that my regular dr can't tell me that it's chronic or something since it is such a wierd case, because of the epstien barr in the middle of it all. I appriciate all your advise and support. I'm just very young to be going thru this and a single parent to boot, so I'm very scared.
The only way to know what th edoctor really meant is to ask him/her. It may be that the Doctor was not speaking of Acute Hep B when he/she said "active hep B" . It could be that your doctor meant that you were in an ACTIVE VIRAL state and infectious to others. Most acute forms resolve within 6 months, and the Liver enzymes can go into the thousands. But, being that you said your doctor told you you had severe liver damage, it may be that you are a chronic carrier. There are tests that your doctor can do that will tell. Please talk to him/her about it. It complicates it a little by the fact that you have Epstein barr virus (EBV) as that is a virus that ALSO attacks the liver. As I said, please talk to your doctor and ask QUESTIONS. While you're at it, ask your doctor to give you SPECIFIC info on your Biopsies ( grade and stage ) as well as copies for your own personal records. Legally even the biopsy slides belong to you. I made the mistake of not getting mine 9 years ago. I wish you all the best. Also please get the shot for Hep A if you don't already have it. Itmight save you even more complications. Good luck.
2hep2it
2hep2it
you will have to follow up with your doctor to find out the exact diagnosis. there are two types of hep b. acute or chronic. acute means you have had the virus for a short time (less than 6 months) and are actively trying to develop antibodies to fight off the virus. in the acute phase, your liver enzymes may spike to the levels you speak, but after awhile, they should normalize or reduce. at that time, you will have either fought off the virus and produced your own antibodies, or you will have a chronic (usually permanent) hep b virus.
based on your liver enzyme levels, it would appear that you were having a spike, and are possibly in the acute phase. there are tests that can be done to determine if you are in the acute phase (i believe Anti HBc IGM). if you are not in the acute phase, then you are in the chronic phase, and if your liver damage is severe, your doctor will either begin treatment, or refer you to a hepatologist or gastroenterologist for further testing and treatment.
bottom line is that you should follow up with your doctor to find out what his recommendations are. do not delay.
hope this helps,
leeac
based on your liver enzyme levels, it would appear that you were having a spike, and are possibly in the acute phase. there are tests that can be done to determine if you are in the acute phase (i believe Anti HBc IGM). if you are not in the acute phase, then you are in the chronic phase, and if your liver damage is severe, your doctor will either begin treatment, or refer you to a hepatologist or gastroenterologist for further testing and treatment.
bottom line is that you should follow up with your doctor to find out what his recommendations are. do not delay.
hope this helps,
leeac
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