Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Dec 19. pii: S0210-5705(16)30163-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2016.11.002. [Epub ahead of print]
Characteristics and course of chronic hepatitis B e antigen-negative infection. [Article in English, Spanish]
Guardiola Arévalo A1, Gómez Rodríguez R2, Romero Gutiérrez M2, Gómez Moreno AZ2, García Vela A2, Sánchez Simón R3, Gómez Hernando C4, Andrés Esteban EM5.
Author information
- 1Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España; Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, España. Electronic address: [email protected].
- 2Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España.
- 3Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España.
- 4Microbiología, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España.
- 5Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España.
AbstractOBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological, analytical and histological characteristics and clinical course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with negative HBe antigen.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, retrospective cohort study of HBV carriers with negative HBe antigen (2005-2012), with no other causes of liver disease.
RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight patients were included, with mean age 40.5±12.2 years; 54% were women, and 38% were of foreign origin; the number of foreign patients significantly increased (P<.001) over the years. Transaminases were normal in nearly 75% and HBV-DNA was <2,000IU/ml in 56% of patients at diagnosis. There was a gradual decrease in HBV-DNA levels in inactive carriers over the study period. Fibrosis study was performed in 47% of patients by Fibroscan® or liver biopsy: 55.4% normal histology and 6.1% cirrhosis. Just over three quarters of patients (77.77%) were inactive carriers. Treatment was required in 15.5% of patients (20% because of cirrhosis and 80% HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B). Five patients cleared HBsAg (annual rate .94%), all of whom presented HBV-DNA <2,000IU/ml at diagnosis. Five patients developed complications (3.6%), 4 of them hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), of which only 2 had cirrhosis. There was 1 HBV-related death (.72%).
CONCLUSION: Among HBV carriers with negative HBe antigen, inactive HBs-Ag carriers are predominant. HBV-DNA gradually decreases in the first few years after diagnosis. Morbidity and mortality are low, especially if glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) is normal and HBV-DNA levels are low at diagnosis. Treatment is needed in a considerable number of patients. HCC is the most frequent complication, even in the absence of cirrhosis.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U., AEEH y AEG. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: ADN; Antígeno HBe(–); DNA; Glutamic pyruvic transaminase; Glutámico pirúvico transaminasa; HBe antigen-negative chronic hepatitis; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis crónica antígeno HBe(–); Negative HBe antigen; Virus de la hepatitis B
PMID:28007350DOI:10.1016/j.gastrohep.2016.11.002
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