title: Longitudinal study of hepatitis activity and viral replication before and after HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients infected with genotypes B and C.
abstract: The aims of this study were to compare chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with genotypes B and C for the probability of HBeAg seroconversion, hepatitis activity, and viral replication before and after HBeAg seroconversion and to compare the prevalence of core promoter and precore mutations. A total of 180 asymptomatic Chinese patients with CHB were monitored for a median of 53.8 months, and 38 patients with cirrhosis-related complications were studied. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were measured in 16 patients with HBeAg seroconversion at 3 months before, during, and 3 months after HBeAg seroconversion and in all patients at the last follow-up. Hepatitis B genotypes and core promoter and precore mutations were determined. Compared to patients with genotype C (n = 109), patients with subtype Ba (n = 69) had a higher rate of anti-HBe positivity on presentation (P = 0.05). HBeAg-positive patients with subtype Ba had a higher cumulative rate of HBeAg seroconversion than patients with genotype C (P = 0.02). However, there were no differences between the two groups with regard to the median HBV DNA levels before, during, and after HBeAg seroconversion; the probability of having persistently normal or elevated aminotransferase levels; and the median HBV DNA levels and liver biochemistry at the last follow-up. There was no difference in the prevalence of genotypes and core promoter and precore mutations between patients with and without cirrhosis-related complications. Though patients with subtype Ba had earlier HBeAg seroconversion, the liver biochemistry, HBV DNA levels in different phases of the disease, and the probability of development of cirrhosis-related complications were the same with genotypes Ba and C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Scott K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
authors.forename: John Chi-Hang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Danny Ka-Ho
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: He-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Siu-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.forename: Annie On-On
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Benjamin Chun-Yu
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ching-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens