Cause and Pathogenesis of Hepatitis B Infection - Essay Example

The hepatitis B disease is a DNA bug, meaning that deoxyribonucleic acids make up its inherent material (Hepatitis B Foundation 2012, p. 1).

Cause and Pathogenesis

The hepatitis B virus belongs to a kind of viruses recognized as Hepadnaviridae and is mainly found within the liver. However, it is found within the blood, as well as certain body liquids. Hepatitis B virus is made up of a core element, central segment, and an adjoining envelope external coat. The core consists of DNA, as well as the center antigen (HBcAg). The envelope holds the exterior antigen (HBsAg). The HBsAg antigens are found within the blood, in addition to being markers utilized in the diagnosis, as well as assessment of patients with assumed viral hepatitis (Millman 2004, p. 30).

Shortly subsequent to the virus entering a fresh host, its preliminary response is to contaminate liver cells, known as hepatocytes. The virus' core mark is the liver since the virus has surface antigens precise for receptors that are found only on liver cells. When these viral antigens combine with the hepatocyte receptors, viral entrance by receptor-intervened endocytosis, as well as uncoats within the cytoplasm is stimulated. Usually, the liver is in charge of getting rid of blood impurities and nutrient processing. A hale and hearty liver are necessary to the performance of blood, lymph, as well as bile making. If the liver stops working, all supplementary organs within the body will before long start to fail (Zaib & Ayub 2010, p. 72).

Evidence for the Contribution of this Virus to the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

in Chronically Infected Individual

The most widespread risk cause of liver cancer is unremitting infectivity with HBV. Individuals who are infected with unremitting HBV are 100 times more expected to build up liver cancer compared to uninfected individuals. This is because the virus unswervingly and repeatedly assails the liver that over time has the aptitude to bring about progressive liver damage, in addition to liver cancer (Millman 2004, p. 54).

Distressingly, with chronic HBV contagions on the rise within the USA, there is a rising prevalence of the primary liver disease. It has turned into one of the swiftest growing cancers within the nation. While the general prevalence of cancer has become stable, and in numerous cases declined, primary liver disease is a rising public health menace, in addition to having a five-year, continued existence rate of a smaller amount than 10%, making liver cancer the second deadliest cancer within the United States (Hepatitis B Foundation 2012, p. 3