RT Book, Section A1 Rutherford, Anna A1 Dienstag, Jules L. A2 Greenberger, Norton J. A2 Blumberg, Richard S. A2 Burakoff, Robert SR Print(0) ID 55960455 T1 Chapter 39. Viral Hepatitis T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy, 2e YR 2012 FD 2012 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-176848-1 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=55960455 RD 2024/03/28 AB Hepatitis A–E cause most recognized cases of acute viral hepatitis; hepatitis B, C, and D cause most recognized cases of chronic viral hepatitis.Hepatitis A and E are transmitted by the fecal-oral route; neither causes chronic infection.Hepatitis B, C, and D are acquired percutaneously; all can result in chronic infection.Hepatitis D can occur only in a host already infected with hepatitis B.All five forms can cause fulminant hepatitis, but B, D, and E are common causes, whereas A and C are very rare causes.Diagnostic tests appropriate to different clinical situations detect specific viral antigens and antibodies in serum by sensitive enzyme immunoassay or radioimmunoassay and viral DNA/RNA by sensitive amplification assays (eg, polymerase chain reaction).