Clinical differences between HBeAg-positive and-negative chronic hepatitis B patients over 40-years-old

Objective To determine the differential clinical characteristics between hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) -positive and-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who are over 40-years-old.Methods A total of 186 patients with chronic HBV and over 40-years-old were analyzed, including 93 HBeAg-positive patients and 93 HBeAg-negative patients.Results In the HBeAg-positive group, 76.34% were male and 78.49% had a family history of HBV infection.The HBeAg-positive group had higher levels of HBV DNA and ALT, and a higher proportion of cirrhosis cases, than the HBeAg-negative group.Ascites were detected in patients from both groups diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis.Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was more frequent in the HBeAg-negative group.Conclusion In our study of chronic HBV patients over 40-years-old, HBeAg-positivity was more frequent in males with a family history of HBV.HBeAg-negativity was more frequently associated with liver cirrhosis.It is possible that progression of chronic HBV may be related to high levels of HBV DNA and persistent liver inflammation.