Hepatitis B Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Nikolaos T Pyrsopoulos, MD, PhD, MBA, FACP; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD   more...
 
Updated: Dec 29, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

When evaluating a patient with suspected infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), also consider the other viral hepatitides and etiologies that can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure, such as drug hepatotoxicity. In addition, because a major mode of transmission of this disease is sexual, also consider the possibility of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Congestive heart failure, Wilson disease, and cholangitis are other conditions included in the differential diagnosis.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Nikolaos T Pyrsopoulos, MD, PhD, MBA, FACP  Chair of Hepatology, Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Liver Unit, Florida Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Nikolaos T Pyrsopoulos, MD, PhD, MBA, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Liver Foundation, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Transplantation, International Liver Transplantation Society, and Transplantation Society

Disclosure: Gilead Sciences Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Schering-Plough Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Roche Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Coauthor(s)

K Rajender Reddy, MD, FACP, FACG  Professor of Medicine, Director of Hepatology, Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

K Rajender Reddy, MD, FACP, FACG is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Florida Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine

Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

George Y Wu, MD, PhD Professor, Department of Medicine, Director, Hepatology Section, Herman Lopata Chair in Hepatitis Research, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

George Y Wu, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Clinical Investigation, and Association of American Physicians

Disclosure: Springer Consulting fee Consulting; Gilead Consulting fee Review panel membership; Gilead Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Bristol-Myers Squibb Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Springer Royalty Review panel membership

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Liver biopsy specimen showing the ground-glass appearance of hepatocytes in a patient with hepatitis B.
Liver biopsy with trichrome stain showing stage 3 fibrosis in a patient with hepatitis B.
Liver biopsy with hematoxylin stain showing stage 4 fibrosis (ie, cirrhosis) in a patient with hepatitis B.
 
 
 
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