6282 Hepatitis Terms and Definitions at www.MedicalGlossary.org

Home > Diseases > Digestive System Diseases > Liver Diseases > Hepatitis Terms and Definitions

Hepatitis

Definition: Inflammation of the liver and liver disease involving degenerative or necrotic alterations of hepatocytes.
Notes: GEN or unspecified; prefer specifics; probably non-viral; viral hepatitis = HEPATITIS, VIRAL, HUMAN & HEPATITIS, VIRAL, ANIMAL or their specifics; /chem ind = HEPATITIS, TOXIC but note HEPATITIS, ALCOHOLIC is also available; /vet = HEPATITIS, ANIMAL or HE

Hepatitis Categories.
Hepatitis, Alcoholic - An acute or chronic degenerative and inflammatory lesion of the liver in the alcoholic which is potentially progressive though sometimes reversible. It does not necessarily include steatosis, fibrosis, or cirrhosis of alcoholics, although it is frequently associated with these conditions. It is characterized by liver cell necrosis, infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes, and Mallory bodies. The morphologic changes of chronic alcoholic hepatitis are not likely to be confused with chronic hepatitis (HEPATITIS, CHRONIC).
Hepatitis, Animal
Hepatitis, Chronic - A collective term for a clinical and pathological syndrome which has several causes and is characterized by varying degrees of hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation. Specific forms of chronic hepatitis include autoimmune hepatitis (HEPATITIS, AUTOIMMUNE), chronic hepatitis B; (HEPATITIS B, CHRONIC), chronic hepatitis C; (HEPATITIS C, CHRONIC), chronic hepatitis D; (HEPATITIS D, CHRONIC), indeterminate chronic viral hepatitis, cryptogenic chronic hepatitis and drug-related chronic hepatitis (HEPATITIS, CHRONIC, DRUG-INDUCED).
Hepatitis, Toxic - Acute hepatitis caused by true hepatotoxins such as Amanita phalloides toxin, carbon tetrachloride, yellow phosphorus, and a variety of drugs. (From Dorland, 28th ed)

Hepatitis Definitions and Terms

MedicalGlossary.org is designed as a free, browsable resource for all. The medical terms and definitions are not intended to replace medical informaion provided by licensed healthcare professionals. Please see a doctor if you need medical assistance. Don't see the medical term you were researching?  Send us an e-mail from our "about us" page.  We will do our best to research and classify new medical terms in a timely manner. Our current list of medical terms is over 26,000. Data sources include the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004 Medical Subject Headings.

Copyright 2004 

Main Categories:
Anatomy
Organisms
Diseases
Chemicals and Drugs
Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment
Psychiatry and Psychology
Biological Sciences
Physical Sciences
Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena
Technology and Food and Beverages
Humanities
Information Science Persons
Health Care
Geographic Locations