What are the complications of hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B, or hepatitis B virus, is a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B itself is not terrible, but its complications may pose serious health threats to patients.

Cirrhosis: Active hepatitis B virus can damage liver cells, which may develop into liver fibrosis and then cirrhosis over time. Cirrhosis is one of the most common complications of hepatitis B and may further develop into liver cancer.

Liver cancer: Most liver cancers develop from chronic hepatitis B. Overactivity of hepatitis B virus can damage liver function, causing ischemic hypoxic necrosis of liver cells, thereby increasing the risk of liver cancer.

Hepatic encephalopathy: This is a common complication of severe hepatitis. It is a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by liver insufficiency, which may lead to symptoms such as disturbance of consciousness and behavioral disorders.

Bleeding: Severe hepatitis and hepatitis cirrhosis can lead to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious complication that can be life-threatening.

Secondary infection: Patients with severe hepatitis often have weakened immune function and are prone to difficult-to-control infections, such as primary peritonitis and pulmonary infection.

Biliary tract inflammation and pancreatitis: Hepatitis B virus not only damages the liver, but may also cause biliary tract inflammation and pancreatitis, manifesting as right upper quadrant pain, fever and other symptoms.

Diabetes: Hepatitis B virus damages pancreatic tissue and affects insulin secretion, which may lead to increased blood sugar levels and even induce diabetes.

Kidney damage: Hepatitis B virus antigen complexes are easily deposited in the glomeruli, leading to glomerular immune damage, which may lead to nephritis.

Skin problems: When chronic hepatitis B develops to a certain extent, it can also damage the skin, leading to a series of skin problems, such as severe itching of the skin, urticaria, etc.

In addition, hepatitis B may also cause electrolyte imbalance, HBVAssociated nephritis, acute renal failure, myocarditis and other complications. Therefore, hepatitis B patients should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions for antiviral treatment, and conduct liver function and related examinations regularly to prevent hepatitis B from silently developing into a more serious disease. At the same time, maintaining good living and dietary habits and enhancing the body's immunity are also important measures to prevent hepatitis B complications.

(Click to view an introduction to drugs for the treatment of hepatitis B.)

References:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b