Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase activity and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/anti-HBe status among type B chronic liver diseases.
To investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and chronic liver disease, age-specific prevalences of HBeAg, anti-HBe, and HBV DNA polymerase (DNAP) activity were studied in 295 asymptomatic HBV carriers and 183 patients with B-type chronic liver diseases. DNAP activity decreased with age, and there was no difference in the overall prevalence of DNAP activity between the asymptomatic carriers (27.8%) and the chronic liver disease patients (27.3%). The prevalence of DNAP activity in the 40-and-over age group was significantly higher for the chronic liver disease patients (17.5%) than for the asymptomatic carriers (1.7%). The prevalence of HBeAg in the 40-and-over age group was also significantly higher for the chronic liver disease patients (33.8%) than for the asymptomatic carriers (2.6%). These data suggest that viral replication decreased with age and that viral replication occurring in older persons closely related to chronic liver disease.
Kashiwagi
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Japan.
Hayashi
J
J
Ikematsu
H
H
Nomura
H
H
Kajiyama
W
W
Shingu
T
T
Hayashida
K
K
Kaji
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014779:Virus Replication
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase