case study
Hogan, Janice
Case Study 29 – Viral Hepatitis
Questions 1-15
1. Q: What is an appropriate diagnosis of the patient’s condition?
A: Hepatitis C
2. Q: Which three test are most definitive in determining this
diagnosis?
A: HCV antibody Test, Viral Load Test and Genotype
3. Q: Identify this patient’s potential risk factors for viral hepatitis.
A: Tattoos
Previous blood transfusion
IV/Intranasal drug usage
Unknown sexual history of involved partners
4. Q: What is the most likely cause of this patient’s viral hepatitis?
A: History of IV drug usage.
5. Q: Why is a previous blood transfusion not a likely cause of viral
hepatitis?
A: Blood transfusion occurred in 1996, assuming this Case Study is
recent. Such a transfusion so long ago will not have any effects on current
viral hepatitis diagnosis.
6. Q: What is the preferred treatment for this patient?
A: The preferred treatment for this patient would be the usage of
antiviral medications. It may even benefit for patient to be on a combination
of antiviral medications for the best overall affect.
7. Q: Why were serum concentrations of the vitamins A,D, and E
tested?
A: Malabsorption is a problem when there is significant liver damage.
These vitamins are fat soluble and at more risk for damage d/t livers inability
to synthesize.
8. Q: Why was serum AFP assayed in this patient?
A: This serum AFP was assayed in this patient to show that with the
level given the patient is at a higher risk for liver damage or cancer.
9. Q: What is the significance of the serum AFP concentration in this
patient?
A: AFP is a protein that is present in patients with liver disease. AFP is
also a "tumor marker" and may be used to see if a patient has liver cancer. A
normal level for adults would be <10ng/mL. This patient’s level was
14ng/mL. A high level of AFP might mean that a patient has liver cancer.
However, sometimes the AFP is high when there is active liver disease but no
cancer. Usually, the AFP test needs to be interpreted by a doctor in
combination with pictures of the liver taken with ultrasound or CT scan.
10. Q: Which patient vital sign – blood pressure, heart rate,
temperature, or respiratory rate – would likely be elevated if the
patient’s liver was not adequately metabolizing cortisol for
This study source was downloaded by 100000830772748 from CourseHero.com on 01-22-2022 03:41:09 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/58436098/Hogan-Case-Study-HEPATITIS-docx/
Hogan, Janice
Case Study 29 – Viral Hepatitis
Questions 1-15
1. Q: What is an appropriate diagnosis of the patient’s condition?
A: Hepatitis C
2. Q: Which three test are most definitive in determining this
diagnosis?
A: HCV antibody Test, Viral Load Test and Genotype
3. Q: Identify this patient’s potential risk factors for viral hepatitis.
A: Tattoos
Previous blood transfusion
IV/Intranasal drug usage
Unknown sexual history of involved partners
4. Q: What is the most likely cause of this patient’s viral hepatitis?
A: History of IV drug usage.
5. Q: Why is a previous blood transfusion not a likely cause of viral
hepatitis?
A: Blood transfusion occurred in 1996, assuming this Case Study is
recent. Such a transfusion so long ago will not have any effects on current
viral hepatitis diagnosis.
6. Q: What is the preferred treatment for this patient?
A: The preferred treatment for this patient would be the usage of
antiviral medications. It may even benefit for patient to be on a combination
of antiviral medications for the best overall affect.
7. Q: Why were serum concentrations of the vitamins A,D, and E
tested?
A: Malabsorption is a problem when there is significant liver damage.
These vitamins are fat soluble and at more risk for damage d/t livers inability
to synthesize.
8. Q: Why was serum AFP assayed in this patient?
A: This serum AFP was assayed in this patient to show that with the
level given the patient is at a higher risk for liver damage or cancer.
9. Q: What is the significance of the serum AFP concentration in this
patient?
A: AFP is a protein that is present in patients with liver disease. AFP is
also a "tumor marker" and may be used to see if a patient has liver cancer. A
normal level for adults would be <10ng/mL. This patient’s level was
14ng/mL. A high level of AFP might mean that a patient has liver cancer.
However, sometimes the AFP is high when there is active liver disease but no
cancer. Usually, the AFP test needs to be interpreted by a doctor in
combination with pictures of the liver taken with ultrasound or CT scan.
10. Q: Which patient vital sign – blood pressure, heart rate,
temperature, or respiratory rate – would likely be elevated if the
patient’s liver was not adequately metabolizing cortisol for
This study source was downloaded by 100000830772748 from CourseHero.com on 01-22-2022 03:41:09 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/58436098/Hogan-Case-Study-HEPATITIS-docx/
