title: Long-term outcome after spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: During the course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion to its antibody (anti-HBe) often coincides with normalization of liver biochemical test and clinical remission, but data regarding long-term outcome after spontaneous seroconversion are still scarce. Excluding patients with other virus(es) concurrent infection, 283 patients with chronic HBV infection were followed up for at least 1 year after spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion to anti-HBe. Follow-up studies included clinical, biochemical, and virologic evaluation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening with ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein assay. During a median follow-up period of 8.6 years (range, 1 to 18.4 years) after HBeAg seroconversion in 283 patients, 189 (66.8%) showed sustained remission, whereas the remaining 94 (33.2%) experienced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation over twice the upper limit of normal: 12 (4.2%) associated with HBeAg reversion, 68 (24%) with detectable serum HBV DNA but HBeAg negative, and 14 (4.9%) of undetermined causes. Of the 269 patients without evidence of cirrhosis at the time of HBeAg seroconversion, 21 (7.8%) developed cirrhosis with a cumulative incidence and relative risk significantly higher in patients developing active hepatitis than in patients with sustained remission (P <.05). HCC developed in 6 (2.2%) of the 283 patients, also with a significantly higher cumulative incidence in patients developing active hepatitis after HBeAg seroconversion (P <.005). In conclusion, the results suggest that spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion confers favorable long-term outcomes. However, active hepatitis still may develop and lead to cirrhosis and HCC.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Shih
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Rong-Nan
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Chau-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: I-Shyan
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Chia-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yun-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens