title: Sex differences in relation to serum hepatitis B e antigen and alanine aminotransferase levels among asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate sex differences in relation to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in chronic asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBeAg and ALT level were determined in 636 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. There was no significant sex differences in the age-adjusted prevalence of HBeAg. Abnormal ALT level (>45 IU/l) was more frequent in carriers with HBeAg (17.5% vs 7.6%; P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that male sex (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.6) and HBeAg (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-4.3) were independent risk factors for abnormal ALT levels. Male sex and HBeAg-positivity are independent risk factors for abnormal ALT activity in chronic HBV infection. This observation may be related to sex differences in chronic HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase