[Relationships between liver function test, serum HBeAg or HBV DNA level and liver pathological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between liver function test, serum HBeAg, HBV DNA level and liver pathological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
233 patients with chronic hepatitis B accept liver puncture biopsy, liver function test, HBeAg detection and HBV DNA fluorescent quantitation PCR detection. Comparisons of liver function test, HBeAg and HBV DNA level were conducted among different liver pathological changes including inflammation grading and fibrosis staging.


RESULTS
In different inflammation grading groups, ALT was highest in group G3 and lowest in group G(0-1)(P = 0.016); TBil was highest in group G4 and lowest in group G(0-1) (P = 0.000); HBV DNA level was highest in group G4 and lowest in group G(0-1), but not statistically significant among groups (P = 0.463). In different fibrosis staging groups, ALT was highest in group S3 and lowest in group S(0-1), but not statistically significant among groups (P = 0.562); TBil was highest in group S4 and lowest in group S2 (P = 0.039); HBV DNA level was highest in group S3 and lowest in group S(0-1), but not statistically significant among groups (P = 0.395). In HBeAg positive group,the proportion of G(3-4) in inflammation grading or S(3-4) in fibrosis staging was lower than that in HBeAg negative group (46% vs. 52%, P = 0.438; 38% vs. 53%, P = 0.025; respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
HBV DNA level can not indicate the severity of liver inflammation or fibrosis in chronic HBV infection. Patients with HBeAg negative often are complicated with more severity of liver fibrosis. In routine liver function test, TBil level correlates with liver inflammation grading or fibrosis staging; ALT level also correlates with liver inflammation grading but not with fibrosis staging.
Xu
Qi-huan
QH
Department of Infectious Disease, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yet-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. xqh0303@yahoo.com.cn
Shu
Xin
X
Chen
Lu-biao
LB
Huang
Hai-hui
HH
Zhang
Ka
K
Li
Guang
G
D000328:Adult; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens