Prediction of occult hepatitis B virus infection in liver transplant donors through hepatitis B virus blood markers

Background

Occult hepatitis B virus infection is defined as detectable HBV-DNA in liver of HBsAg-negative individuals, with or without detectable serum HBV-DNA. In deceased liver donors, results of tissue analysis cannot be obtained prior to allocation for liver transplantation.

Aims

we investigated prevalence and predictability of occult hepatitis B using blood markers of viral exposure/infection in deceased liver donors.

Methods

In 50 consecutive HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive and 20 age-matched HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-negative donors, a nested-PCR assay was employed in liver biopsies for diagnosis of occult hepatitis B according to Taormina criteria. All donors were characterized for plasma HBV-DNA and serum anti-HBs/anti-HBe.

Results

In liver tissue, occult hepatitis B was present in 30/50 anti-HBc-positive (60%) and in 0/20 anti-HBc-negative donors (p < 0.0001). All anti-HBc-positive donors with detectable HBV-DNA in plasma (n = 5) or anti-HBs > 1,000 mIU/mL (n = 5) eventually showed occult infection, i.e, 10/30 occult hepatitis B-positive donors which could have been identified prior to transplantation. In the remaining 40 anti-HBc-positive donors, probability of occult infection was 62% for anti-HBe-positive and/or anti-HBs ≥ 58 mIU/mL; 29% for anti-HBe-negative and anti-HBs < 58 mIU/mL.

Conclusions

In deceased donors, combining anti-HBc with other blood markers of hepatitis B exposure/infection allows to predict occult hepatitis B with certainty and speed in one third of cases. These findings might help refine the allocation of livers from anti-HBc-positive donors.     

经病理诊断的慢性乙型肝炎病毒携带者与慢性肝炎的临床分析

目的 比较病理学诊断为慢性HBV携带者与慢性肝炎患者的临床资料,为不同ALT水平的慢性HBV感染者的处理提供病理学依据.方法 对292例慢性HBV感染者进行肝活组织检查,按病理学诊断符合慢性HBV携带者标准(G0～G1且S0～S1)与慢性肝炎标准[G＞1和(或)S＞1]分为携带组和肝炎组,比较不同年龄分层及ALT水平分层与病理诊断的关系,同时比较其他可能与病理诊断相关的临床、生物化学及影像学指标,Logistic回归方程(后退法,极大似然法)进行多因素分析,确定病理学符合慢性HBV携带者诊断的独立影响因素.结果 292例患者中,病理诊断为慢性HBV携带者有140例,占47.9％;慢性肝炎152例,占52.1％.HBV携带组与慢性肝炎组在≤35岁与36～40岁、＞40岁比较,差异有统计学意义(x2=3.936,8.534;P=0.047,0.003); ALT水平在＜0.5×正常值上限(ULN)、(0.5～1.0)×ULN、(1.1～1.5)×ULN、(1.6～2.0)×ULN、＞2.0×ULN间比较差异有统计学意义(x2=55.314,P＜0.01),但ALT在(1.1～1.5)×ULN与＞2.0×ULN比较,差异无统计学意义(x2=3.810,P=0.051).多因素分析显示,病程、饮酒史、ALT分层、HBV DNA水平及超声检查肝表面是否光滑是病理学符合慢性HBV携带者诊断的独立影响因素(OR=0.995、0.224、0.516、1.308、0.270,P=0.005、0.007、0.000、0.025、0.001).结论 年龄35岁以上且ALT水平介于(1～2)×ULN的患者行肝活组织检查的临床意义更大.     

Combination antiviral therapy controls severe post-liver transplant recurrence of hepatitis B virus infection

The authors have successfully used combination ganciclovir and foscarnet chemotherapy to control viral replication following liver transplantation in a patient with severe recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The disease was characterized by extremely high viraemias, deteriorating liver function, and high levels of intra-hepatic hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Treatment resulted in a greater than 30-fold reduction in serum HBV DNA and HBsAg levels. Liver function tests returned to normal and the histological progression of the disease was arrested. Hepatic cytoplasmic HBsAg decreased substantially but there was little change in HBcAg, implicating HBsAg rather than HBcAg in the liver injury. Combination antiviral chemotherapy using agents such as ganciclovir and foscarnet may offer a new approach to the management of post-transplant recurrence of HBV.     

乙型肝炎病毒基因型与干扰素α1b疗效关系的研究

目的　探讨乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV)基因型与干扰素α1b治疗慢性乙型肝炎疗效的关系。方法　采用PCR、核酸杂交和酶联显色技术对慢性乙型肝炎患者进行HBV基因分型 ,随机观察 10 5例 (B型 5 3例和C型 5 2例 )慢性乙型肝炎患者干扰素α1b治疗 6个月和随访半年后肝功能和病毒学指标的变化。结果　干扰素α1b治疗 6个月和随访半年后 ,B基因型患者的HBeAg阴转率、HBVDNA阴转率和HBeAg/抗 HBe的血清转换率均显著高于C基因型 (P <0 . 0 1) ,B基因型患者的有效应答率为 5 2 . 83 %,显著高于C基因型的 2 5 . 0 0 %(P <0 . 0 1)。B基因型的持续应答率高于C型 ,复发率低于C型 ,但两组差异无显著性 (P >0 . 0 5 )。结论　B基因型对干扰素α1b的抗病毒疗效显著高于C型 ,HBV基因型是影响干扰素α1b疗效的重要因素之一。     

Interactions between human immunodeficiency virus-1, hepatitis delta virus and hepatitis B virus infections in 260 chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus.

To evaluate the factors determining the severity of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the interactions of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis delta virus infections, we retrospectively analyzed 260 patients, 146 of whom were followed for a mean of 31.4 +/- 1.8 mo. Human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis delta virus status and aminotransferase activities, histological activity index, alcohol consumption and the prevalence of cirrhosis were investigated. The patients included 54 homosexuals, 19 parenteral drug abusers and 187 subjects with other or unidentified risk factors for exposure to hepatitis B virus. Thirty-five patients (13%) were positive for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus; 27 were homosexual and 8 were drug abusers. The mean aminotransferase activities, histological activity index and the prevalence of cirrhosis were similar in the human immunodeficiency virus-positive and human immunodeficiency virus-negative subgroups. Actuarial survival was significantly lower in the human immunodeficiency virus-negative subgroups. Actuarial survival was significantly lower in the human immunodeficiency virus-positive group than in the human immunodeficiency virus-negative subjects (p = 0.004); the cause of death was clearly related to liver failure in four of the five human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients and two of the six human immunodeficiency virus-negative subjects who died. To evaluate the factors determining the severity of liver disease, we compared homogeneous subgroups of subjects. Among the homosexual patients, the prevalence of HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA, aminotransferase activities and the histological activity index did not differ according to human immunodeficiency virus antibody status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection through serological and virological markers

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important health problem and the major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The natural history of chronic HBV infection can be divided into four dynamic phases in HBV carriers who acquire the virus early in life. Diagnosis of HBV infection is usually through serological and virological markers. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the hallmark of HBV infection and is the first serological marker to appear in acute hepatitis B, and persistence of HBsAg for more than 6 months suggests chronic HBV infection. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) usually indicates active HBV replication and risk of transmission of infection. Recently, occult HBV infection is recognized as the absence of circulating HBsAg in individuals positive for serum or tissue HBV DNA, irrespective of other HBV serological markers. Meanwhile, monitoring the serum HBV DNA level is valuable for assessing liver disease activity, differentiating other etiologies of hepatitis activity in HBV carriers, predicting risk of HCC development or liver-related mortality, deciding to administer antiviral therapy, determination of the response to antiviral treatment, predicting the risk of developing drug resistance, and detecting the emergence of drug-resistant mutants. On the other hand, HBV genotype C, basal core promoter mutant and pre-S deletion mutant are reported to be associated with increased risk of HCC development. The roles of quantitative HBV serology and intrahepatic HBV covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA deserve further studies. In conclusion, it is particularly important for physicians to screen for HBV infection in HBV-endemic areas and to monitor liver disease progression in HBV carriers by using both serological and virological markers, so that effective treatment can be initiated early before the development of advanced liver disease.     

The hepatitis B virus

Of all the hepatotropic viruses, HBV is associated with the greatest worldwide morbidity and mortality. This is because of the ease of transmission and the potential for progression to a chronic infective carrier state, with the complications of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The use of PCR has shown that some of the earlier concepts concerning the interpretation of serological data were inaccurate. Many patients with anti-HBe and anti-HBs have viral DNA detectable by PCR, and some hepatocellular carcinoma patients have detectable HBV DNA in their livers in the absence of all serological markers of HBV disease. The clearance of HBV infected cells from the liver is dependent on the interplay between the interferon system and the cellular limb of the host immune response. The importance of the nucleocapsid proteins as targets for sensitized cytotoxic T cells has been established for chronic HBV infection. The importance of pre-S sequences as inducers and targets of the virus-neutralizing humoral immune response is becoming established, but their precise role must await the development of in vitro models of hepadnavirus infection and a greater understanding of the mechanisms of viral uptake. The epidemiology and clinical course of the disease can be modified by immunization, immune stimulation and antiviral chemotherapy. For the developing world, a programme of immunization at birth would be the most effective way of eliminating this disease, but at present the cost is prohibitive. For the developed world, immunization is realistic for the at-risk population, and anti-viral and immunostimulatory therapy available for those already infected. In adult acquired chronic HBV infection alpha-interferon produces HBe antigen clearance in 40-60% of cases and is followed by resolution of the hepatic inflammation. Results in neonatally acquired infection are less impressive and prednisolone priming followed by interferon may be needed. The presence of a mutation in the pre-core region of some virus isolates has recently been described. Hepatocytes infected with this virus cannot produce HBe antigen and the course of the liver disease is fairly rapid. Whether this mutant causes liver damage in the same way as the wild virus or is directly cytopathic remains unclear, and its relationship to fulminant hepatitis is under investigation.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清前S1抗原检测的意义

目的探讨PreS1抗原检测的临床价值。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验法检测421例慢性乙型肝炎患者血清PreS1抗原和HBV标记物;采用荧光定量PCR法检测HBVDNA。结果在421例慢性乙型肝炎患者中,HBVDNA阳性者367例,其中PreS1Ag阳性者188例(51.2%),HBeAg阳性者119例(32.4%),后两者有显著性差异(P0.01);在高HBVDNA载量(105～107copies/ml和107copies/ml)组患者中,PreS1Ag阳性率(60.2%,60.0%)显著高于HBVDNA阴性组(33.3%)和低载量(103～105copies/ml)组(41.9%,P0.01);但在421例患者中,PreS1Ag阳性率(48.9%)低于HBVDNA(87.2%,P0.01)。结论 PreS1Ag能够较HBeAg更好地反映HBV在体内的复制状态,但尚不能代替HBVDNA的检测。     

HBV前S1抗原在乙型肝炎临床诊断中的意义

目的探讨乙型肝炎(乙肝)病毒前S1抗原在乙肝病毒感染中的临床意义。方法分析1088例HBV前S1抗原阳性结果与乙肝5项病毒学指标和HBV DNA结果的关系。结果前S1抗原阳性的乙肝5项病毒学指标结果出现6种模式,其中HBsAg、HBeAg、抗HBc阳性患者的前S1抗原阳性率为88.74%;HBsAg、抗HBe、抗HBc阳性患者前S1抗原阳性率为41.32%,2组间有显著差异(P<0.05),而HBsAg及抗HBc阳性组前S1抗原阳性率介于HBsAg、HBeAg、抗HBc阳性组与HBsAg、抗HBe、抗HBc阳性组之间。HBsAg、HBeAg、抗HBc阳性患者前S1抗原阳性率随着HBV DNA载量的升高而增加(各组间P<0.05)。HBeAg、前S1抗原与HBV DNA三者间有很好的一致性。结论检测前S1抗原是对HBsAg、HBeAg及HBV DNA检测的重要补充。在防止乙肝漏诊、误诊及了解疾病的转归等方面都具有重要的临床意义。     

胸腺肽α1在慢性乙型肝炎和重症肝炎的治疗中的作用

亚太区治疗肝炎指南推荐:胸腺肽α1作为治疗慢性乙型肝炎(乙肝)的一线用药.于2004年10月初在中国台湾召开的慢性乙肝治疗共识专题会议上和随后在印度马德里举行的亚太区肝病大会上都通过了有关建议.即:     

Persistence of hepatitis B virus DNA after serological clearance of hepatitis B virus

Using Southern blot technique, the state of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in liver tissue was investigated in 16 patients who were sero-negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but positive for its antibody (anti-HBs). In only one case, was HBV DNA found in liver tissue in a heterogeneously integrated form. In this case, digestion with Taq I demonstrated integrated HBV DNA as two definite bands at 1.8 and 0.5 kbp. This suggests that HBV DNA in some cases persists even after HBV infection has been cleared serologically. It is possible that this persistence of HBV DNA plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis.     

慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者外周血单个核细胞表达程序性死亡分子-1及其配体与血清乙型肝炎病毒DNA水平的相关性

Objective To study the relationship between programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-1 ligand (PD-L1) expressions and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods A total of 137 CHB patients and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from fresh blood samples. HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) was expanded in vitro in 64 human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 positive patients. Flow cytometry was used to detect HLA-A2 type,expressions of PD-1/PD-L1 on PBMCs and PD-1 on HBV specific CTL. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ)was measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. PD-1/PD-L1expressions on PBMCs, HBV-specific CTL and IFN-γ level in PBMC culture medium were compared among patients with different baseline HBV DNA levels. Ten hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive patients were treated with telbivudine for 24 weeks. The above mentioned parameters were determined and compared before and after the antiviral treatment. Independent-samples t test were used to compare means between two groups and one-way A NOVA were used to compare means among multigroups. We used the pearson corretation test to assess corretation significance. Results The PD-1 and PD-L1 expressions on PBMCs in patients with baseline HBV DNA＜3 lg copy/mL, 3-6 lg copy/mL and ＞6 lg copy/mL were all significant higher than those in healthy control group, but no statistical differences were found. PD-1 expressions on HBV-specific CTL in the three CHB patient groups were (69.3±11.2)%, (76.5±9. 1)% and (78.0±11.7)%, respectively. However, PD-1 expression on HBV-specific CTL was higher, while the frequency of HBV-specific CTL cells was lower in HBV DNA ＞6 lg copy/mL group compared to HBV DNA＜3 lg copy/mL group. The above parameters, including expressions of PD-1 and PD-L1, the frequency of HBV-specific CTL and its PD-1 expression were not significantly different between HBeAg-positive group and HBeAg-negative group. Compared with baseline, PD-1 and PD-L1 expression decreased obviously accompanying with increase of HBV-specific CTL cells frequency and IFN-γ level after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of telbivudine treatment. Conclusions PD-1 expression on HBV-specific CTL correlates with serum HBV DNA level, but not HBeAg status in CHB patients. Suppression of HBV replication can reduce PD-1/PD-L1 expressions and partially restore HBV specific CTL function.     

Hepatitis B virus taxonomy and hepatitis B virus genotypes

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of the hepadnavirus family. Hepadnaviruses can be found in both mammals (orthohepadnaviruses) and birds (avihepadnaviruses).The genetic variability of HBV is very high. There are eight genotypes of HBV and three clades of HBV isolates from apes that appear to be additional genotypes of HBV. Most genotypes are now divided into subgenotypes with distinct virological and epidemiological properties. In addition, recombination among HBV genotypes increases the variability of HBV. This review summarises current knowledge of the epidemiology of genetic variability in hepadnaviruses and, due to rapid progress in the field,updates several recent reviews on HBV genotypes and subgenotypes.