Liver histology and HBV DNA levels in chronically HBV infected patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase.
BACKGROUND
Data on histological activity and HBV DNA levels in patients with chronic HBV infection and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels are sparse. We aimed to investigate the histological activity and HBV DNA levels in these patients.


METHODS
There were 132 patients with HBeAg negative chronic HBV infection and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels that were included prospectively. Data were dichotomized according to the median levels. Associations of histology with HBV DNA and other variables were assessed.


RESULTS
A total of 80 patients were male. The median age was 36 years. The median baseline HBV DNA was 2.9Log10 IU/mL. There were 50 cases (38%) with a total score > or = 5, 53 cases (40.2%) had grade > or = 4 and 40 cases (30.3%) had stage > or = 2. A baseline HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL was seen in 24 cases (48%) of those with total score > or = 5, 28 cases (53%) of those with grade > or = 4 and 9 cases (22.5%) with stage > or = 2. Multivariate analysis of baseline HBV DNA above the median level significantly predicted the total score, grade and stage with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.43, 3.47, and 4.23, respectively when compared to below median values. A second liver biopsy was performed in 61 patients. The median time interval between the two biopsies was 40 months. Total scores of 23 cases (38%) progressed by > or = 2 scores and the HBV DNA of 18 cases (22.5%) increased by > or = 1 Log10 IU when compared to baseline values.


CONCLUSIONS
HBeAg negative chronic HBV infection with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase is not a silent disease. Active liver disease may be seen in such patients with viral loads less than 2000 IU/mL.
Montazeri
Ghodrate
G
Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. montazer@ams.ac.ir
Rahban
Maryam
M
Mohamadnejad
Mehdi
M
Zamani
Farhad
F
Hooshyar
Afshin
A
Fazlolahi
Atoosa
A
Abedian
Shifteh
S
Ghoujeghi
Farhad
F
Estakhri
Arezoo
A
Montazeri
Farhad
F
Razjoyan
Hadi
H
Mamarabadi
Mansoureh
M
Alimohamadi
Meysam
M
Tavangar
Seyed Mohamad
SM
Malekzadeh
Reza
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase