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hy is polyarteritis more common in people with hepatitis B infection? What is the science behind this
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that primarily affects medium-sized muscular arteries, usually involving arteries to internal organs such as the kidneys, but usually spares the lungs. This disease is closely related to infection with hepatitis B virus. The scientific community has begun to conduct in-depth research on the mechanism behind this phenomenon.
Polyarteritis is a disease that affects multiple organ systems and presents with a wide range of clinical symptoms, including muscle and joint pain, renal insufficiency, and cardiac and nervous system involvement.
Pathophysiology of polyarteritis
PAN results from inflammation of the blood vessel walls, which can lead to ischemic damage affecting organs such as the skin, heart and kidneys. Symptoms of PAN vary and often include systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss. These symptoms are often aggravated by infection, immune response or other internal factors.
The role of hepatitis B virus
Studies have shown that approximately 30% of polyarteritis patients are associated with chronic hepatitis B virus. The blood vessels of these patients contained HBsAg-HBsAb complexes, suggesting that the condition may be caused by an immune complex-mediated inflammatory response. This results in a significant increase in the incidence of polyarteritis in patients infected with hepatitis B.
Many people with polyarteritis have elevated white blood cell counts and elevated levels of C-reactive protein in their blood tests, which are often associated with infection or inflammation.
Diagnosis of Polyarteritis
Diagnosing polyarteritis is not as simple as some other diseases, and there are no specific laboratory test indicators. The diagnosis is generally based on medical history, clinical manifestations and some auxiliary examinations. According to the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, patients can be diagnosed with polyarteritis if they meet three or more of the diagnostic criteria.
Treatment methods
Treatment is mainly based on immunosuppressive drugs, including steroids. If hepatitis B virus infection also exists, treatment should be initiated immediately. Most patients achieve remission with appropriate treatment, but untreated cases are mostly fatal.
Impact and Prognosis
PAN is more common in adults aged 40 to 60 years and occurs more frequently in men than in women. Statistics show that patients with polyarteritis associated with hepatitis B infection have a lower recurrence rate than those with other causes.
ConclusionEven when treatment is effective, about 60% of cases will relapse within five years, but the relapse rate for patients with hepatitis B is only 6%.
The cause and mechanism of polyarteritis are still unresolved issues in the medical community, but it is obviously closely related to hepatitis B infection. This has triggered deeper thinking about medical research and public health policy: How should we effectively prevent the occurrence of such diseases and how to improve the health management of patients related to hepatitis B?
