Hepatitis B viral factors and clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important health problem and the major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The natural history of chronic HBV infection can be divided into 4 dynamic phases in HBV carriers who acquire the virus early in life. In general, the frequency and severity of hepatitis flares in the immune clearance or reactivation phase predict disease progression in HBV carriers, and early HBeAg seroconversion typically confers a favorable outcome. In contrast, late or absent HBeAg seroconversion after multiple hepatitis flares accelerates the progression of chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis. Recently, several hepatitis B viral factors predictive of clinical outcomes have been identified. For example, serum HBV DNA level at enrollment is the best predictor of adverse outcomes (cirrhosis, HCC and death from liver disease) in adults with chronic HBV infection. In addition, HBV genotype C, basal core promoter (BCP) mutant and pre-S deletion mutant are associated with increased risk of HCC development. In conclusion, hepatitis B viral factors such as serum HBV DNA level, genotype and mutants have already been clarified to influence disease progression of chronic hepatitis B. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of each viral factor.
Department of Gastroenterology, Ren-Ai branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chih-Lin
CL
Lin
Jia-Horng
JH
Kao
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D037521:Virulence Factors