The outcome of hepatitis depends heavily on the disease or condition that is causing the symptoms. For some causes, such as subclinical Hepatitis A infection, the person may not experience any symptoms and will recover without any long-term effects. For other causes hepatitis can result in irreparable damage to the liver and require a liver transplant.[1] A subset referred to in a 1993 classification as "hyperacute" liver failure can happen in less than a week.[2]
The liver can regenerate damaged cells.[3] Chronic damage to the liver can result in the formation of scar tissue called fibrosis and can result in nodules that block the liver from functioning properly; this condition is called cirrhosis and is not reversible.[4] Cirrhosis may indicate a liver transplant is necessary. Another complication of chronic hepatitis is liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma.[5]
In March 2015 the World Health Organisation issued its first guidelines for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. This condition is affecting some 240 million people worldwide. These guidelines are for the prevention, care and treatment of persons living with chronic hepatitis B.[6]
- ^ Beckingham (2001). "Acute hepatitis". BMJ. 322 (7279): 151–153. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7279.151. PMC 1119417. PMID 11159575.
{{cite journal}}: Missing|author1=(help); Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ Schalm; Williams (1993). "Acute liver failure: redefining the syndromes". Lancet. 342 (8866): 273–5. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)91818-7. PMID 8101303.
{{cite journal}}: Missing|author1=(help); Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ Dieter Häussinger, ed. (2011). Liver Regeneration. Berlin: De Gruyter. p. 1. ISBN 978-3-11-025079-4.
- ^ "Liver Cirrhosis". Review of Pathology of the Liver.
- ^ Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (7th ed.). Saunders. 2003. pp. 914–7. ISBN 978-0-7216-0187-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|editors=ignored (|editor=suggested) (help) - ^ "WHO issues its first hepatitis B treatment guidelines". World Health Organisation. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.