title: HBV-DNA, HBeAg/anti-HBe serological status in hepatitis B chronic individuals from central Italy.
abstract: A population of 488 HBsAg carrier individuals, from central Italy, classified on the basis of biochemical, clinical and histological parameters, was analysed for the presence of HBV-DNA in serum and its relationship with HBeAg/anti-HBe markers. The prevalence of HBV-DNA was 32.8% in chronic patients with biopsy-proven liver disease, and 20 and 4.3% respectively in asymptomatic carriers with and without altered ALT levels. The values in chronic patients were correlated with the histological activity. Concordance of HBV-DNA presence and HBeAg positivity was observed in only 61.4% of cases. However HBV-DNA prevalence in sera of anti-HBe positive individuals was very low in asymptomatic carriers with normal ALT levels (2.5%). Higher values were observed in anti-HBe positive chronic patients (15.8%) and in carriers occasionally found with changes in ALT without any other clinical sign of illness (16.7%). These data would indicate that HBV-DNA is the serological marker which is most closely related to liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapicetta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: di Nardo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rozera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinucci
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Francisci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarrecchia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albertoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase