Long-term follow-up of 60 patients with chronic hepatitis B. II. Hepatitis B virus DNA in serum correlated to the hepatitis Be-system and presence of delta superinfection.
Forty-six patients with liver biopsy-documented chronic hepatitis B were followed for a mean period of 44 months. A total of 200 serum samples from these patients was analyzed for the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA). The results were correlated to the HBeAg/anti-HBe status and to the presence of anti-delta as a marker for delta superinfection. In the initial serum samples HBV-DNA was detected in the vast majority of the patients independent of the HBeAg/anti-HBe results and whether the patients were superinfected by delta agent or not. During the complete follow-up period, HBV-DNA was detected in 88% of those patients who were positive for HBeAg, irrespective of the presence or absence of a simultaneous delta infection. When anti-HBe positive, 79% of the patients with anti-delta had detectable HBV-DNA in their sera, while only 43% of those negative for anti-delta were positive for HBV-DNA. The results indicate a high prevalence of virus release into the blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B, especially among patients positive for HBeAg and among those anti-HBe positive patients who have a delta superinfection.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens