PDF《Hepatitis B Foundation》

192 ? Individuals who have tattoos or body piercings ? Individuals who travel to countries where hepatitis B is common (Asia, Africa, South America, the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East) ? Individuals emigrating from countries where hepatitis B is common, or who are born to parents who emi- grated from these countries (see above) ? ALL pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B infection Is there a vaccine for hepatitis B? The good news is that there is a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B that lasts a lifetime. It is recommended in the U.S. and other countries for all infants and children up to age

18 and adults at high risk for infection. Additional Diagnostic Tests: Liver Function Tests (LFTs): These are a group of blood tests that help your doctor find out how well your liver is working. The most important test is the following: Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): This is an enzyme that is released from liver cells into the bloodstream when the liver is injured. An ALT level above normal may indicate liver damage. ALT levels are included in the regular monitoring of all chronic hepatitis B patients;

this test can also be useful in deciding whether a patient would benefit from therapy, or for evaluating how well a current treatment is working. Liver Biopsy: This involves the removal of a small piece of tissue from the liver using a special needle. The tissue is examined under a microscope to look for inflammation or liver damage. Hepatitis B DNA test: This is a highly sophisticated blood test that checks for the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA in the bloodstream. The DNA test indicates how much virus is present in the blood. e-antigen: This is a protein that is made by the virus. If this test is positive, it indicates that there is a lot of virus in the blood, which means that you can more easily spread the virus to others. e-antibody: Often as the virus stops replicating in the body, and the e-antigen disappears from the blood, the e- antibody appears. This can happen spontaneously or after treatment. For more information about HBV diagnostic tests, please visit the following websites: Hepatitis B Foundation website at www.hepb.org HIV & Hepatitis Treatment Advocates at www.hivandhepatitis.com/KHSBEtest.html University of Maryland Medical Center at www.umm.edu/liver Hepatitis B Foundation ・

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