[The follow-up of serum aminotransferase levels and investigation of hepatitis B virus load in inactive HBsAg carriers].
The aim of this study was to follow-up the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in inactive HBsAg carriers during one year period and investigate the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels detected at the end of the year. At May 2005, 61 patients with HBeAg negative/anti-HBe positive chronic HBV infection, followed in our viral hepatitis clinic were included to the study. The patients' ultrasonographic examination of the liver were normal, they had no history of taking alcohol or routine medication, were anti-HCV seronegative and had normal ALT levels during the last 6 months and at the beginning of the study. Serum ALT levels of patients were followed in the 3rd, 6th and 12th months of the study, and blood HBV-DNA levels were analysed quantitatively in 12th month. During the one year period 89% (54/61) of the patients yielded continously normal ALT levels, while 11% (7/61) showed at least one ALT value above the normal levels (ALT > 1.2x). Total HBV-DNA positivity rate was found as 59% (36/61). In inactive HBsAg carrier group,--namely HBeAg negative and serum ALT levels constantly normal--57.4% (31/54) of patients were HBV-DNA positive and 23 (42.6%) were negative. Amongst the HBV-DNA positive patients the viral load were detected as 10(4)-10(5) copies/ml in six (19.4%), and <10(4) copies/ml in 25 (80.6%) patients. In patients who had at least one ALT value above normal limits, 71.4% (5/7) of them were found HBV-DNA positive; two with HBV-DNA values of >10(5) copies/ml and three with values between 10(4)-10(5) copies/ml. In conclusion, although ALT levels may be normal, it should always be taken into consideration that more than half of inactive HBsAg carriers exhibited low level viral replication, thus HBV-DNA and liver enzyme levels should be monitored routinely in order not to miss the acute manifestations.
Olut
Ali Ilgin
AI
Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Deviet Hastanesi, infeksiyon Hastaliklan Kliniği, Izmir. aliolut@yahoo.com
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D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase