title: Pathological features and prognosis in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers.
abstract: This retrospective study examined 220 Chinese chronic hepatitis B virus carriers over 5 years. After initial liver biopsy, liver function tests and serological analysis, patients underwent further tests of liver function and hepatitis B seromarkers at 6-month intervals. Second and third liver biopsies were performed in 56 and 23 patients, respectively. Liver pathology was classified according to inflammatory activity (G(0) - G(4)) and degree of fibrosis (S(0) - S(4)). A significantly greater proportion of hepatitis B e antigen antibody-positive patients had a more severe level of inflammation and fibrosis than patients who were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. Abnormal inflammation (≥ G(2)) occurred in 122 (55.5%) patients. Hepatitis B reactivation occurred in 35 (15.9%) patients: 33 had obvious liver inflammation at the initial biopsy (≥ G(2)) and only two had a low level of liver inflammation (G(0) - G(1)). The hepatitis B reactivation rate was significantly related to age but not to gender. Hepatitis B surface antigen clearance was 1.55% per year and HBeAg seroconversion was 5.36% per year. In conclusion, hepatitis B reactivation was closely correlated with age and the level of liver inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Wuxi Infectious Disease Hospital, 88 Xingyuan Zhong Road, Wuxi 214005, China. Lu_z_h@126.com
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: X J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: X B
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001706:Biopsy; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens