Status of HBeAg in association with other baseline tests in Iraqi patients with CHB

Abstract

Chronic Hepatitis B(CHB) is a serious sequel after Hepatitis B Virus infection, although the rate of chronicity is inverse with age but it may be associated with a significant proportion of deaths related to cirrhosis and liver cancer. HBV serology and measurement of hepatocytic enzymes with viral load can predict disease prognosis and response to treatment. HBeAg refers to a high viral replication and associated with more infectivity to others. This study aimed to determine the impact of HBeAg status in chronically infected patients on various baseline tests. A total of 90 patients with CHB infection who were included in this study. Several standardized measures used for liver function tests, viral load and hepatitis B serological markers. HBeAg was negative in 81/90 (90%) patients and positive in 9/90(10%). There was significant association between HBeAg serostatus and HBV-DNA viral load (p=0.042), as more than half of the cases (55.6%) had high levels of HBV serum DNA (≥2000 IU/ml) and positive HBeAg compared to 24.7% of cases with negative HBeAg. HBeAg seroconversion was not associated with liver function tests, modes of transmission, duration of chronicity, marital status, gender and age. We concluded that HBeAg sero-negativity among the studied cases can predict the inactive or reactive phase of chronic hepatitis B, if the latter is associated with high viral loads, so that further studies are needed to find out associated precore mutants.

A critical review of diagnostic and prognostic markers of chronic hepatitis B infection

“…Furthermore, there is a correlation between HBV DNA viral load and HBeAg status, whereby individuals who test positive for HBV DNA have higher quantities of HBV circulating DNA [ 10 , 57 ]. HBeAg seroconversion, however, was not discovered to be connected to liver function tests, transmission routes, chronicity duration, marriage history, gender, or age [ 58 ]. In general, HBeAg can be utilised as a marker to forecast the severity and course of a CHB infection, especially when it comes to fibrosis of the liver and viral load [ 12 ].…”

“…Regarding the prospects of CHB infection, HBeAg is a major factor. Its presence is connected to increased levels of HBV serum DNA and is linked to enhanced replication of viruses and infectivity [ 58 ]. Loss of HBeAg, or HBeAg seroconversion, is a sign of either the reactive or inactive stages of CHB [ 59 ].…”

“…HBeAg-negative individuals may be in an inactive or aggressive phase of the disease, whereas HBeAg-positive patients have increased replication of viruses and infectivity [ 63 ]. A better prognosis is linked to HBeAg seroconversion, which is a significant treatment outcome where HBeAg turns negative [ 58 ]. HBeAg seroconversion is predicted by HBcrAg levels at the beginning and two years following antiviral medication, where lower levels are linked to a higher chance of seroconversion [ 64 ].…”

Association of viral load and autophagy-related genes polymorphisms with hepatitis B virus pre-core/core mutations in chronic hepatitis B virus Iraqi patients

“…Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is affected 292 million people worldwide. Recent studies highlight the importance of CHB in Iraq (1). CHB is considered a significant health concern due to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.…”