title: The importance of the serum quantitative levels of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen in children with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the clinical importance of quantitative levels of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and to detect their correlation with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, hepatic activity index (HAI) and fibrosis scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 56 HBeAg-positive children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were included in the study. Quantification of HBsAg and HBeAg was performed using an automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Comparisons were performed using the paired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or t-test for independent samples. Correlations were tested using the Pearson correlation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found between groups of pre- and post treatment quantitative levels of HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA, and ALT. Comparison of HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA, and ALT levels before the treatment and decrease ratios of these levels after treatment according to HAI and fibrosis scores did not show any statistically significant differences. There was a positive correlation between pretreatment HBV DNA load and HBeAg levels, and a negative correlation between pretreatment HBV DNA and ALT levels. There was a negative correlation between decrease ratios of HBsAg and ALT levels after treatment. Patients with post treatment HBeAg seroconversion had a lower post treatment HBV DNA load and a higher decrease ratio of HBsAg than patients who did not have HBeAg seroconversion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated that HBsAg and HBeAg levels significantly decreased during treatment and that HBeAg correlated with HBV DNA load. Quantitative HBeAg and HBsAg assays could therefore have an important role in treatment of CHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazığ, Turkey. kaandemiroren@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demirören
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kocamaz
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doğan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007372:Interferons; D000410:Alanine Transaminase