Hepatitis B and pregnancy Hepatitis B and pregnancy Hepatitis B is caused by a DNA virus, and the intact virus is termed the Dane particle. Following an acute infection caused by hepatitis B virus, less than 1 percent of patients develop fulminant hepatitis and die. Eighty-five to 90 percent experience complete resolution of their physical findings and develop protective levels of antibody. Ten to 15 percent of patients become chronically infected.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide.
Chronic liver disease is particularly likely to occur in patients who remain seropositive for HBsAg and who become superinfected with the hepatitis D virus. The diagnosis of acute hepatitis B is confirmed by detection of the surface antigen and IgM antibody to the core antigen. Identification of HBeAg is indicative of an exceptionally high viral inoculum and active viral replication. Patients who have chronic hepatitis B infection have persistence of the surface antigen in the serum and liver tissue. Perinatal transmission occurs primarily as a result of the infant's exposure to infected blood and genital secretions during delivery.