[The histopathologic and clinical analysis of viral chronic hepatitis patients with negative serological viral markers].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the histopathological and clinical features of viral chronic hepatitis patients with negative serological viral markers.


METHODS
62 hepatitis patients with negative serological markers were assayed with serological viral hepatitis markers, liver function test and liver biopsies were enrolled in the study. Serum HBV DNA of HBV cases was analyzed by PCR. Liver specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry for HBsAg and HBcAg.


RESULTS
The fit rate of histopathological diagnosis with clinical diagnosis is 53.2%, the fit rate is 69.1% in moderate chronic hepatitis group. The immunohistochemistry showed that HBsAg and/or HBeAg positive rate was 45.2%, 53.6% had moderate chronic hepatitis and 25% had mild hepatitis. 13 (46.4%) had G1 hepatitis, 10 (35.7%) had G2 hepatitis, 3 (10.8%) had G3 hepatitis and 2 (7.1%) had G4 hepatitis, and serum HBV DNA positive rate was 35.7%. There were no differences in HBV DNA levels between different hepatitis group and fibrosis stage group (P > 0.05). There were no differences in all indexes between HBV DNA negative group and HBV DNA positive group (P > 0.05). There were no differences in all indexes between HBV patients and other patients (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Occult HBV infection may account for a high proportion of the cases with chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology. Most patients are chronic mild hepatitis, but they still have HBV replication and can progress to liver cirrhosis. Serum PCR test, liver biopsy and immunohistochemistry are helpful for the diagnosis.
Wu
Chi-hong
CH
Department of Infectious Diseases of Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
Xu
Xiao-yuan
XY
Tian
Geng-shan
GS
Wang
Qin-huan
QH
Zeng
Zheng
Z
Xu
Jing-hang
JH
Wang
Tai-ling
TL
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M