title: [Hepatitis B virus genotypes and alanine aminotransferase levels in HBeAg negative patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate genotypes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of HBeAg negative patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV serological markers and ALT levels were detected in 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 41 cases with liver cirrhosis, using enzyme linked absorbent immunoassays and an enzyme method, respectively. A polymerase chain reaction of S region was used for HBV genotyping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 21 (33.9%) were HBeAg negative, and 41 (66.1%) HBeAg positive. Among 41 cases with liver cirrhosis, 28 (68.3%) were HBeAg negative, and 13 (31.7%) HBeAg positive. Of these 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 53 (85.5%) were infected with HBV genotype C, and 9 (14.5%) with genotype B. Thirty-nine (95.1%) of the 41 patients with liver cirrhosis were infected with genotype C, and 2 (4.9%) with genotype B. The proportion of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients with ALT level > 40 U/L was lower than that of the HBeAg positive group (47.6% and 85.4%, respectively) (P < 0.01). The percentage of ALT levels > 40 U/L of the negative patients with liver cirrhosis was also lower as compared to that of the HBeAg positive patients, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups, because of the small sample size (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of HBeAg negative patients is high in the group of chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis. These patients have relatively low ALT levels, and mainly have HBV genotype C infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Jun-qian
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xue-zhang
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase