Value of HBsAg level in predicting liver inflammation in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus infection and normal alanine aminotransferase

Zhan ZENG; Yuanjiao GAO; Xiaoyue BI; Fengxin CHEN; Wen DENG; Tingting JIANG; Yanjie LIN; Liu YANG; Minghui LI; Yao XIE

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2022.05.011

Volume 38 Issue 5

May 2022

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Article Navigation > Journal of Clinical Hepatology > 2022 > 38(5): 1030-1034

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Value of HBsAg level in predicting liver inflammation in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus infection and normal alanine aminotransferase

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2022.05.011

1.
Second Department of Hepatology, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100015, China
2.
Second Department of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China

Research funding:

Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support (XMLX201706);

Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support (XMLX 202127);

National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2017ZX10201201-001-006);

National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2017ZX10201201-002-006);

National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2018ZX10715-005-003-005);

Special Public Health Project for Health Development in Capital (2021-1G-4061);

Special Public Health Project for Health Development in Capital (2022-1-2172);

The Digestive Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Hospitals Authority (XXZ0302);

The Digestive Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Hospitals Authority (XXT28);

Beijing Science and Technology Commission (D161100002716002);

Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (Z151100004015122)

More Information

Corresponding author: XIE Yao, xieyao00120184@sina.com(ORCID: 0000-0003-4108-737)
Received Date: 2022-02-03
Accepted Date: 2022-03-14
Published Date: 2022-05-20

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate the onset of liver inflammation and related predictive factors in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who have normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and a high viral load. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 183 patients with HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection who had normal ALT and a high viral load and were treated from October 2008 to May 2015, and according to the results of liver biopsy, they were divided into hepatitis group and non- hepatitis group. The t-test or Mann-Whitney U testwas used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data. The predictive factors were analyzed by univariate binary logistic regression, the multivariate binary logistic regression was carried out by stepback method, and the cut-off values were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and Jordan index. Results There were 37 patients (20.2%) in the hepatitis group and 146 patients (79.8%) in the non-hepatitis group. Compared with the non-hepatitis group, the hepatitis group had a significantly lower proportion of male patients (45.9% vs 68.5%, χ²=6.508, P=0.011), a significantly higher level of aspartate aminotransferase [24 (21.25~35.55) U/L vs 21.2 (18.08~ 24.65) U/L, Z=-3.344, P=0.001], and a significantly lower log(HBsAg) value [4.4(4.28~4.49) vs 4.46(4.4~4.74), Z=-2.184, P=0.029]. Log(HBsAg) value was a predictive factor for hepatitis (odds ratio=0.077, P=0.017), and the cutoff value of HBsAg was 33884.4I U/mL. Conclusion Among the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection who have normal ALT and a high viral load, 20.2% have liver inflammation, and HBsAg may be a predictive factor for liver inflammation.
- Hepatitis B virus,
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigens,
- Hepatitis B e Antigens,
- Immune Tolerance,
- Inflammation

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References

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Value of HBsAg level in predicting liver inflammation in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus infection and normal alanine aminotransferase

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Value of HBsAg level in predicting liver inflammation in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus infection and normal alanine aminotransferase

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