title: Clinical significance of blood biochemical liver function tests in asymptomatic chronic HBs Ag carriers.
abstract: To date we have had 31 asymptomatic chronic HBs Ag carriers in whom the time of HBV infection can be assumed, HBs Ag in sera persisted for at least 6 months, laparoscopy with liver biopsy was performed within 6 to 21 months after the assumed HBV infection, and the clinical course after performance of laparoscopy with liver biopsy ranged from 6 months to 5 years has been observed, while with the lapse of time, blood biochemical liver function tests were examined once every 4 weeks. In 16 out of 31 cases, the results of blood biochemical liver function tests remained always in the normal range and in the remaining 15 cases, blood biochemistries fluctuated sometimes pathologically, but transiently. In the former group, the results of blood biochemical liver function tests showed no pathologic findings, although the histologic inflammatory processes were outstanding in cases of chronic aggressive hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. In the remaining 15 cases, blood biochemistries fluctuated transiently and slightly, although morphological findings corresponded to chronic aggressive hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. The dissociation between blood biochemistries and morphologic findings needs to be further clarified.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase