title: Precore stop mutant in HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B: clinical characteristics and correlation with the course of HBeAg-to-anti-HBe seroconversion.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the ratios of precore stop mutant (codon 28; TGG to TAG) to total viremia in 53 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B by amplification-created restriction site assays along the course of HBeAg-to-anti-HBe seroconversion. At baseline, 11% had exclusive wild-type hepatitis B virus (HBV), 15% had exclusively precore mutant, and 74% had mixed viral strains. Precore mutant ratios correlated little with age, sex, or HBV DNA levels (all P > 0.1), but correlated modestly with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (P = 0.05). The intervals from presentation to anti-HBe seroconversion correlated significantly with ALT and precore mutant ratios in univariate analysis but with only precore mutant ratios in multivariate analysis (P = 0.003). Precore mutant ratios at baseline were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in six patients with persistent high viremia and ALT elevation after anti-HBe seroconversion (group 1) than in 47 with remission (group 2). All group 1 patients had exclusive precore mutant after anti-HBe seroconversion, as did only 14 (30%) of the group 2 patients (P = 0.003). Among group 2 patients, precore mutant ratios at baseline or after anti-HBe seroconversion showed no significant difference between 34 patients with sustained remission and 13 with relapse. Cirrhosis developed in 50% (5 of 10) of patients with precore mutant ratios >50% at baseline but only in 12% (5 of 43) of those with precore mutant ratios of <50% at baseline (P < 0.05). In conclusion, precore mutant of variable ratios was frequently detected in HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B. Precore mutant ratios tended to correlate with ALT levels and anti-HBe seroconversion, but high precore mutant ratios were associated with persistent hepatitis after anti-HBe seroconversion and increased risk of cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan. chu0066@cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Chia-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Chau-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Ching-Song
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I-Shyan
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Yun-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003062:Codon; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens