Chia-Ming Chu1, Yun-Fan Liaw. 1. Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. chiamingchu@yahoo.com.tw
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Predictors of reactivation of hepatitis B following hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B have rarely been reported before and deserve further study. METHODS: A total of 133 HBeAg-positive asymptomatic carriers who have undergone HBeAg seroconversion were studied. Reactivation of hepatitis B was defined as elevation of alanine aminotransferase >2 x upper normal limit accompanied by serum hepatitis B virus DNA detectable by hybridization assays. RESULTS: The samples consisted of 75 men and 58 women, and the mean age at entry was 28.2 +/- 6.9 years. One hundred eight subjects had genotype B, and 25 had genotype C. The maximal alanine aminotransferase levels during the HBeAg-positive phase were <2, 2-5, and >5 x upper normal limit in 49, 40, and 44 subjects, respectively. HBeAg seroconversion occurred after a mean follow-up of 4.6 +/- 3.7 years. During a mean follow-up of 5.8 +/- 4.6 years following HBeAg seroconversion, reactivation of hepatitis B occurred in 26 patients at 3.3% per year. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that reactivation of hepatitis B correlated significantly with genotype C (P = .003), male sex (P = .03), alanine aminotransferase levels >5 x upper normal limit during the HBeAg-positive phase (P = .02), and age at HBeAg seroconversion >/=40 years (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: At baseline, genotype C and male sex are independent factors predictive of reactivation of hepatitis B. Additionally, the likelihood of reactivation of hepatitis B is increased if more rigorous immune-mediated hepatocytolysis or more prolonged immune clearance phase is necessary to eliminate the virus.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Predictors of reactivation of hepatitis B following hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B have rarely been reported before and deserve further study. METHODS: A total of 133 HBeAg-positive asymptomatic carriers who have undergone HBeAg seroconversion were studied. Reactivation of hepatitis B was defined as elevation of alanine aminotransferase >2 x upper normal limit accompanied by serum hepatitis B virus DNA detectable by hybridization assays. RESULTS: The samples consisted of 75 men and 58 women, and the mean age at entry was 28.2 +/- 6.9 years. One hundred eight subjects had genotype B, and 25 had genotype C. The maximal alanine aminotransferase levels during the HBeAg-positive phase were <2, 2-5, and >5 x upper normal limit in 49, 40, and 44 subjects, respectively. HBeAg seroconversion occurred after a mean follow-up of 4.6 +/- 3.7 years. During a mean follow-up of 5.8 +/- 4.6 years following HBeAg seroconversion, reactivation of hepatitis B occurred in 26 patients at 3.3% per year. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that reactivation of hepatitis B correlated significantly with genotype C (P = .003), male sex (P = .03), alanine aminotransferase levels >5 x upper normal limit during the HBeAg-positive phase (P = .02), and age at HBeAg seroconversion >/=40 years (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: At baseline, genotype C and male sex are independent factors predictive of reactivation of hepatitis B. Additionally, the likelihood of reactivation of hepatitis B is increased if more rigorous immune-mediated hepatocytolysis or more prolonged immune clearance phase is necessary to eliminate the virus.
Authors: Yun-Fan Liaw; Nancy Leung; Jia-Horng Kao; Teerha Piratvisuth; Edward Gane; Kwang-Hyub Han; Richard Guan; George K K Lau; Stephen Locarnini Journal: Hepatol Int Date: 2008-05-10 Impact factor: 6.047