Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases

Hepatitis and Liver Diseases

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Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, caused mainly by virus. But, there are other possible causes of hepatitis that include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis caused due to excessive medications, drugs, due to excessive alcohol consumption and also autoimmune hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is the most common type of hepatitis infection and is caused by hepatitis virus, and is categorized into 5 types- Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are the most common with Hepatitis B present in about 400 million people globally. Hepatitis C is the chronic form of hepatitis and is seen in about 200 million people globally. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are spread through contaminated food and water. Alcohol, toxins, drugs are the main causes of non-viral hepatitis. Formation of a large scar tissue leads to fibrosis mainly caused when liver attempts to repair and replace the damaged cells. This scar tissue obstructs blood flow through liver, thereby limiting the blood supply which in turn forms more scar tissue causing portal hypertension.  Although fibrosis produces no symptoms, prolonged presence of fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis which shows symptoms. Fibrosis can be detected using blood tests and imaging, but sometimes liver biopsy is also required. People having chronic hepatitis, or patients having HIV-Hepatitis Co-infection, fatty liver, and those prone to insulin resistance are at risk of having fibrosis.