How does your liver respond to chronic hepatitis B infection?

Hepatitis B is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver-related death worldwide.1 When a person is chronically infected with hepatitis B, healthy liver cells are damaged and scar tissue will form, impairing liver function. This can lead to serious consequences and liver damage, including:

Liver 2Inflammation: When the liver first becomes infected with hepatitis B, mild to moderate swelling will occur. Liver inflammation can also lead to more serious conditions such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Liver 3Fibrosis: Fibrosis occurs when healthy liver cells are damaged by the hepatitis B virus, which are replaced by mild to moderate scar tissue, called fibrous tissue. The liver is still able to carry out all normal functions and people may experience little to no symptoms.

Liver 4Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis of the liver is characterised by permanent and severe scarring of the liver caused by chronic liver inflammation. Cirrhosis is also the main cause of primary liver cancer and develops in two stages:

  1. Compensated cirrhosis – Despite scarring, the liver can carry out its normal function. While symptoms may not be severe, complications can occur.
  2. Decompensated cirrhosis – Characterised by severe scarring and liver failure. A liver transplant is the only treatment option.

Liver 5Liver Cancer: Malignant tumours that form on the liver. Hepatitis B is responsible for 80% of all primary liver cancer worldwide.2

While there is no cure for chronic hepatitis B, there are treatments available that can help reverse liver disease, such as fibrosis/cirrhosis, as well as prevent more severe liver complications, including liver cancer and liver failure.

Click here to see the effects of long-term damage caused by hepatitis B

References

1 Hoffman, C et al. Clinical implications of HIV and hepatitis B co-infection in Asia and Africa. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Volume 7, Issue 6, Pages 402 - 409, June 2007.
2 Hepatitis B Foundation. Hepatitis B and Primary Liver Cancer. Available at http://www.hepb.org/professionals/hepb_and_liver_cancer.htm. Accessed 11 September 2008.