Spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen to antibody seroconversion and reversion in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Five hundred twelve (373 men, 139 women) patients, aged 1-75 yr, with chronic hepatitis B virus infection seen during a 5-yr period were analyzed. Of these, 43.8% were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive, 49.2% were positive for hepatitis B e antibody, and 7% were negative for both HBeAg and hepatitis B e antibody at presentation. The cumulative probability of clearing HBeAg at the end of the first, second, and third years was 17%, 30%, and 34%, respectively. The probability of clearing HBeAg increased with the age of the patients. Reversion to HBeAg occurred in 7.8% of patients who were HBeAg-negative at presentation and 32.3% of HBeAg-positive patients who cleared HBeAg. In 70.6% of these patients, serum hepatitis B virus-deoxyribonucleic acid was persistently positive or became detectable at the time of HBeAg reversion. Most reversions occurred during the "e-window" phase. The reversions were transient in 31.8% of the cases. Recognition of the dynamics of these serologic changes is important in the evaluation of therapeutic regimens aimed at suppression of HBV replication and call for controlled trials with adequate duration of follow-up. Biochemical exacerbation of liver disease accompanied 38.7% of HBeAg to hepatitis B e antibody seroconversions and 34.8% of reversions. Such exacerbations may be mistaken for acute attacks of hepatitis B in patients not previously recognized to be hepatitis B surface antigen carriers and, in the absence of serial serologic data, are indistinguishable from superimposed non-A, non-B hepatitis.     

Viremia profiles in children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and spontaneous e antigen seroconversion

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study investigated the viremia profiles in children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. METHODS: Fifty-eight children with chronic HBV infection met the following criteria: normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level at enrollment, followed up for more than 10 years, no antiviral treatment, and having undergone spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion during follow-up evaluation. They were grouped according to the post-HBeAg seroconversion HBV-DNA levels: (1) low viremia: transient or never 10(4) copies/mL or greater (n=35) (2) fluctuating high viremia: 10(4) copies/mL or greater at least twice at intervals more than 1 year apart (n=23). Abdominal sonography, ALT, and HBV-DNA levels were assessed annually. Another 14 nonseroconverted children served as controls. The precore mutant (nt1896) and genotypes were examined. RESULTS: The initial HBV-DNA level of the 58 seroconverters was 10(8.4+/-1.0) copies/mL and decreased to 10(2.9+/-2.0) copies/mL at the end of follow-up period. Their mean ages at enrollment, at peak HBV-DNA, at peak ALT, at HBeAg seroconversion, and at final follow-up were 7.0 +/- 3.7, 13.4 +/- 5.8, 16.3 +/- 6.0, 17.2 +/- 5.8, and 23.7 +/- 4.1 years, respectively. The precore mutant appeared more often in the fluctuating-high-viremia group than in the low-viremia group (60.9% vs 22.9%, P=.004). HBV genotypes had no effect on the viremia profiles. After HBeAg seroconversion, none had persistent abnormal ALT levels. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, these young seroconverters had decreased viral loads, normal ALT levels, and uneventful courses after HBeAg seroconversion. A longer follow-up period is necessary to elucidate the significance of HBeAg seroconversion occurring in childhood and young adulthood.     

Clinical, virologic and histologic outcome following seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe in chronic hepatitis type B

Seventy consecutive HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis were followed prospectively with serial determinations of SGPT levels and hepatitis B virus serum markers including HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe and hepatitis B virus DNA. During a period of 1 to 11 years (mean +/- S.D.: 5.0 +/- 2.3 years), 28 patients remained persistently HBeAg positive, most with continuing biochemical and histologic activity, while 41 cases seroconverted to anti-HBe. One patient became HBeAg and anti-HBe negative. After seroconversion, 87.8% of the cases showed sustained normalization of SGPT, and clearance of hepatitis B virus DNA from serum and histologic improvement was documented in 79% of the cases who had a control liver biopsy, while 15.8% developed cirrhosis. In two patients (4.9%), the disease remained active despite seroconversion, and both cases had evidence of continuing hepatitis B virus replication. Finally, reactivation of liver damage and of hepatitis B virus replication was observed in three additional patients (7.3%) who had transiently normalized SGPT after seroconversion. All 70 patients were analyzed for hepatitis delta virus markers, and only two persistently HBeAg-positive cases were found positive for antibody to hepatitis delta virus in serum, one also having hepatitis delta antigen in the liver. These findings indicate that, in chronic hepatitis type B, termination of virus replication is associated in most patients with biochemical and histologic regression of inflammatory activity. After anti-HBe seroconversion has occurred, virus replication and liver disease may persist or reactivate in a small proportion of patients thus giving origin to the well-recognized group of anti-HBe positive, hepatitis B virus DNA-positive chronic hepatitis type B.     

Analysis of factors predicting early seroconversion to anti-HBe in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B

To investigate whether data obtained at the time of diagnosis may serve to predict early seroconversion to anti-HBe in chronic hepatitis B virus infection, we have compared the clinical, pathological and virological features of two groups of patients with untreated HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B who showed a markedly different outcome. One group (early seroconverters) included 20 patients who developed a typical seroconversion to anti-HBe within the first year of prospective follow-up. The other group (non-seroconverters) was formed by 21 patients who remained seropositive for HBeAg and still had raised aminotransferase serum levels after at least 2 years of follow-up. The serum aminotransferases, the degree of periportal and lobular lesions, the amount of liver fibrosis and the total score index of histological activity were significantly higher but the amount of HBcAg in liver was smaller in early seroconverters. Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the alanine aminotransferase serum levels, the Knodell's index of histological activity and the amount of HBcAg in liver had significant value as independent predictors of early seroconversion. Calculation of the probability of seroconversion for individual cases showed marked differences between the two groups of patients, suggesting that early seroconversion to anti-HBe may be predicted in some patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

目的 检测HBV核心启动子区(CP)基因变异方式.方法 自HBV慢性感染患者血清中提取HBV DNA,扩增CP区域序列,克隆入pMD19 T载体,选择阳性克隆进行DNA测序,与已知HBV基因相应序列比较患者体内HBV基因变异位点以及变异形式.结果 自21例患者中共挑选74个克隆测序,54个克隆中病毒基因序列CP区发生大段缺失突变,长度达234个核苷酸,另有1个克隆发生245个核苷酸缺失突变.缺失突变区域包括CP区、HBeAg起始密码子和直接重复序列(DR)Ⅰ区,命名为CP缺失突变,发生CP缺失突变的病毒株同时存在A1585T替换突变,这两个部位的突变具有联动特征.结论 观察到一种导致HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎的新方式,即CP、HBeAg起始密码子缺失突变,并提出一种简明的CP缺失检测方式.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.     

一种新的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒变异机制

Objective To investigate mutation patterns in core promoter(CP)region of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods HBV DNA was extracted from sera of patients with chronic HBV infection.The CP sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pMD19 T vector.The positive clones were then sequenced.The sequences were compared with known HBV genome in GenBank to identify the mutation sites and patterns of patients with chronic HBV infection.Results There were 74 clones from 21 patients with chronic HBV infection which were sequenced.The sequence comparisons showed that there was a 234-nucleotide deletion in CP region of HBV genome in 54 clones and a 245-nucleotide deletion in one clone.These deletion regions included CP,HBeAg initiation codon and direct repeat sequence(DR)Ⅰ regions,which named CP deletion(CPD).A1585T replacement mutation was also found in HBV strain with CPD,which indicated that there was linkage between these two mutations.Conclusions A novel mechanism of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B is observed,which includes deletions of CP and HBeAg initiation codon.Meanwhile,a simple and useful PCR method is developed to detect CPD.