Result Patterns and Characteristics of HBeAg and HBV DNA in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
- Author:
Eun Jin CHOI
1
;
Jae Han KIM
;
Mi Soon HAN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: HBeAg; Viral DNA; Chronic hepatitis B; Alanine aminotransferase; HBsAg
- MeSH: Alanine Transaminase; Dataset; DNA; DNA, Viral; Follow-Up Studies; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis, Chronic; Humans; Seroconversion
- From:Laboratory Medicine Online 2019;9(4):210-217
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Discrepancies in the results between hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels pose difficulties in the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aims to better understand the different phases of CHB and to detect additional meaningful parameters for CHB patients. METHODS: We collected datasets of HBeAg and HBV DNA levels measured during 2016 and the follow-up results for CHB patients for past 3 years. We analyzed the collected data by applying the definitions of CHB clinical phase and compared the results of semi-quantitative and quantitative HBeAg assays. RESULTS: About 55% of 2,291 result pairs from CHB patients showed qualitative agreement between HBeAg and HBV DNA results. HBeAg (−) CHB was reported in 16.49%, while hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss occurred in 0.18% among 1,146 patients annually. HBeAg reversion occurred in 2.74% of 839 patients that experienced HBeAg seroconversion. Patients with HBeAg (+) and HBV DNA (−) showed statistically significant differences in the levels and percentage abnormality of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) based on whether HBV DNA was ‘Target not detected’ or ‘Detected,
