Bredfeldt J E
Postgrad Med. 1985 Nov 1;78(6):71-8, 81-3. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1985.11699185.
Knowledge about hepatitis B virus (HBV) has expanded vastly over the past 20 years, elucidating not only the spectrum of clinical illnesses it causes but also its biologic characteristics. HBV is an important cause of both acute and chronic liver disease in the United States. The most serious outcome of hepatitis B infection is chronic liver disease, which can range from chronic hepatitis eventuating in cirrhosis to primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular biologic studies have shown that HBV-DNA can be integrated into the genome of hepatocytes. This integration may be part of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B infection and may transform normal hepatocytes into neoplastic cells. Immunization with hepatitis B vaccine (Heptavax-B) of persons at high or intermediate risk is an essential means for preventing transmission of hepatitis B. Use of the vaccine after recent exposure to hepatitis B breaks the chain of transmission--an exciting capability. Postexposure immunization of neonates born of HBsAg-positive mothers is particularly important in preventing vertical, or perinatal, transmission of infection.
在过去20年里，人们对乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）的认识有了极大的扩展，不仅阐明了它所引发的一系列临床疾病，还明确了其生物学特性。在美国，HBV是急性和慢性肝病的一个重要病因。乙型肝炎感染最严重的后果是慢性肝病，其范围可从发展为肝硬化的慢性肝炎到原发性肝细胞癌。分子生物学研究表明，HBV-DNA可整合到肝细胞基因组中。这种整合可能是慢性乙型肝炎感染自然病程的一部分，并且可能将正常肝细胞转化为肿瘤细胞。对高风险或中风险人群接种乙型肝炎疫苗（Heptavax-B）是预防乙型肝炎传播的重要手段。在近期接触乙型肝炎后使用该疫苗可阻断传播链，这是一项令人振奋的能力。对HBsAg阳性母亲所生新生儿进行暴露后免疫接种对于预防感染的垂直传播或围产期传播尤为重要。
