title: The natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Three stages of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are recognized: the immune tolerant phase, the chronic hepatitis B phase, and the inactive hepatitis B carrier phase. Active liver disease is most often found in persons with elevated aminotransferase levels and HBV DNA levels >10(5) copies/mL. Possible risk factors for developing liver disease include older age, male gender, presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV genotype, mutations in the precore and core promoter regions of the viral genome, and coinfection with hepatitis D (delta) virus. All persons chronically infected with HBV should be followed every 6 to 12 months with aminotransferase levels. Those with elevated levels should be tested for HBeAg and its antibody (anti-HBe) as well as HBV DNA levels to determine if they are in need of further evaluation with a liver biopsy and are candidates for antiviral therapy. Future research will help clarify the outcome of chronic HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-5902, USA. bdm9@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase