Aa
HBV
Dear Doctor,
I had unprotected vaginal sex with a female of unknown status in 2003. I tested negative for HIV but never thought to test for HBV. I am concerned now because of a slightly elevated ALT level at a recent annual exam.I say elevated but it was 51 and the normal range for the lab was 12-78. It just seems high based on research I have done. I also drink alcohol daily and that could certainly cause an elevated reading. My question is what type of risk did this act carry?
Besides a 3 day flu (fever, nausea, no appetite, etc.) in 2008 (5 years after exposure) I have not displayed anything that could resemble symptoms of HBV. However, I have also read symptoms are not always present until a much later and advanced stage. I have also been with the same woman (now my wife) since 2004. If I was a chronic carrier, would I not have infected her by now and would she not have displayed some symptoms. Sorry for all the questions but I am very anxious about this. Thank you in advance for your response.
I had unprotected vaginal sex with a female of unknown status in 2003. I tested negative for HIV but never thought to test for HBV. I am concerned now because of a slightly elevated ALT level at a recent annual exam.I say elevated but it was 51 and the normal range for the lab was 12-78. It just seems high based on research I have done. I also drink alcohol daily and that could certainly cause an elevated reading. My question is what type of risk did this act carry?
Besides a 3 day flu (fever, nausea, no appetite, etc.) in 2008 (5 years after exposure) I have not displayed anything that could resemble symptoms of HBV. However, I have also read symptoms are not always present until a much later and advanced stage. I have also been with the same woman (now my wife) since 2004. If I was a chronic carrier, would I not have infected her by now and would she not have displayed some symptoms. Sorry for all the questions but I am very anxious about this. Thank you in advance for your response.
Thank you, sir.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HBV is somewhat more frequenly heterosexually transmitted than your PCP seems to believe, but it remains true that almost nobody catches it from a single episode of unprotected sex. Otherwise I agree exactly with his assessment and advice.
Dear Dr. HHH:
I called my PCP today about the LFT results and testing for HBV. He didn't recommend testing absent certain symptoms and risk categories in which I do not fall. He said HBV is rarely transmitted sexually through normal heterosexual intercourse. He stated those at risk are IV drug users and people who engage in anal sex. What's more, he looked at a recent CT scan on my abdomen (I had this done for a kidney stone) and said my liver is in excellent shape. He said my levels and CT scan are not indicative of HBV or any hepatitis. For this reason he did not recommend testing. Beyond the physiological benefit I would gain from a negative result, do you agree with my PCP's assessment that I should not worry about this and simply move on?
Thank you.
I called my PCP today about the LFT results and testing for HBV. He didn't recommend testing absent certain symptoms and risk categories in which I do not fall. He said HBV is rarely transmitted sexually through normal heterosexual intercourse. He stated those at risk are IV drug users and people who engage in anal sex. What's more, he looked at a recent CT scan on my abdomen (I had this done for a kidney stone) and said my liver is in excellent shape. He said my levels and CT scan are not indicative of HBV or any hepatitis. For this reason he did not recommend testing. Beyond the physiological benefit I would gain from a negative result, do you agree with my PCP's assessment that I should not worry about this and simply move on?
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Serious consequences of HBV can occur anywhere from a few months to 50 years (or more) after infection.
My view is that your LFTs were not significantly "out of whack". Changes in blood chemistry results are generally meaningless if both results are well within the normal range, as yours were on both tests. However, Dr. Schiano is the liver expert, not me. But he certainly would agree those results do not suggest HBV or any other infectious hepatitis.
But this all remains speculation. I'll be happy to comment one more time when your HBV test results are available.
My view is that your LFTs were not significantly "out of whack". Changes in blood chemistry results are generally meaningless if both results are well within the normal range, as yours were on both tests. However, Dr. Schiano is the liver expert, not me. But he certainly would agree those results do not suggest HBV or any other infectious hepatitis.
But this all remains speculation. I'll be happy to comment one more time when your HBV test results are available.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Serious consequences of HBV can occura nywhere from a few months to 50 years (or more) after infection.
My view is that your LFTs were not significantly "out of whack". Changes in blood chemistry results are generally meaningless if both results are well within the normal range, as yours were on both tests. However, Dr. Schiano is the liver expert, not me. But he certainly would agree those results do not suggest HBV or any other infectious hepatitis.
But this all remains speculation. Report your HBV test results if you wish, but I won't have any more advice until then.
My view is that your LFTs were not significantly "out of whack". Changes in blood chemistry results are generally meaningless if both results are well within the normal range, as yours were on both tests. However, Dr. Schiano is the liver expert, not me. But he certainly would agree those results do not suggest HBV or any other infectious hepatitis.
But this all remains speculation. Report your HBV test results if you wish, but I won't have any more advice until then.
Thank you. I will request a test and post the results. One last question, if you would be so kind. What typically is the timeline for "late stage" symptoms to persist? If infected in 2003, which I understand may be doubtful, would my LFT's be "out of whack" after 9 years without treatment and a history of moderate to heavy alcohol consumption?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. Thanks for your question.
I looked at your discussion on the liver transplantation forum. In your last comment there, you correctly predicted my response to this question. The statistical chance you caught HBV during your vaginal sex exposure back in 2003 is very low; and I agree your slightly different liver function tests are not a concern and unlikely to be caused by HBV or any other form of hepaitis.
You are also correct that your flu-like symptoms in 2008 were too late to be due to HBV acquired back in 2003. The late symptoms of hepatitis B are caused by ongoing serious liver damage; they are not flu-like or transient, but would persist pretty much indefinitely. And your blood test results show you do not have such significant liver damage.
Having said all that, there is an immediate answer to your anxiety: get tested for HBV. I recommend it not because I believe it is likely you are infected, but for the reassurance you likely would gain from the negative test result.
As for concern about transmitting HBV to your wife, I'm not going to speculate. If your test results are positive we can discuss that aspect at that time; until then it is pointless to speculate.
If you get tested, I would be happy to comment if you want to return to let me know the result. In the meantime, do your best to not worry. The chance you have HBV is very low.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I looked at your discussion on the liver transplantation forum. In your last comment there, you correctly predicted my response to this question. The statistical chance you caught HBV during your vaginal sex exposure back in 2003 is very low; and I agree your slightly different liver function tests are not a concern and unlikely to be caused by HBV or any other form of hepaitis.
You are also correct that your flu-like symptoms in 2008 were too late to be due to HBV acquired back in 2003. The late symptoms of hepatitis B are caused by ongoing serious liver damage; they are not flu-like or transient, but would persist pretty much indefinitely. And your blood test results show you do not have such significant liver damage.
Having said all that, there is an immediate answer to your anxiety: get tested for HBV. I recommend it not because I believe it is likely you are infected, but for the reassurance you likely would gain from the negative test result.
As for concern about transmitting HBV to your wife, I'm not going to speculate. If your test results are positive we can discuss that aspect at that time; until then it is pointless to speculate.
If you get tested, I would be happy to comment if you want to return to let me know the result. In the meantime, do your best to not worry. The chance you have HBV is very low.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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