title: [Characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. analysis of a series of 474 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical, laboratory, serological and histologic characteristics of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in our environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed that included chronic AgHBs carriers aged more than 13 years attending our service since January 2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 474 patients were included. At diagnosis, 55.49% were men, with a mean age of 41.05±13.93 years. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were within the normal range in 57.17% of the patients, and 87.76% were AgHBe(-). Hepatitis C and D virus coinfection was found in 3.62% and 1.86%, respectively. Liver biopsy was performed in 31.22%; varying grades of inflammation-fibrosis were found in 63.51% and cirrhosis was found in 12.84%. Compared with AgHBe(-) patients, those who were AgHBe(+) were younger and had greater disease activity. This difference was statistically significant. Patients in the immunotolerant phase were the least numerous (5.26%), while AgHBe(-) patients with chronic HBV infection were the most numerous (48.32%). Patients in the immunoreactive phase showed greater histological involvement (16.67% cirrhosis). A familial history of chronic HBV was found in 21.52%. The percentage of non-Spanish patients increased in the last few years and accounted for 18.78%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic HBV infection in our environment occurs mainly in middle-aged persons. GPT values are normal in more than 50%, most are AgHBe(-), and approximately half are inactive carriers. The incidence of chronic infection has increased in the non-Spanish population in recent years.
authors: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España. 925252585@telefonica.net
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Gómez Rodríguez
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Guardiola Arévalo
authors: Ana Zaida
authors: AZ
authors: Gómez Moreno
authors: Almudena
authors: A
authors: García Vela
authors: César
authors: C
authors: Gómez Hernando
authors: Rufo
authors: R
authors: Rodríguez Merlo
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: Sánchez Ruano
authors: Gema
authors: G
authors: de la Cruz Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000569:Americas / Q000208:ethnology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D015994:Incidence; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens