Clinical importance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen levels in chronic hepatitis B.

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J Viral Hepat. 2011 Oct;18(10):e508-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2011.01486.x.

Epub 2011 Jul 22.

Clinical importance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen levels in chronic

hepatitis B.

Togo S, Arai M, Tawada A, Chiba T, Kanda T, Fujiwara K, Imazeki F, Yokosuka O.

Source

Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba

University, Chiba, Japan.

Abstract

Summary.  Quantitative serology for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a

new candidate marker for prediction of clinical outcome. The aim of this study

was to investigate the clinical significance of quantifying HBsAg in patients

with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A total of 424 patients who tested

positive for HBsAg and were referred to Chiba University Hospital between

January 1985 and April 2008 were included in the study, and the following

characteristics were analyzed: age, gender, status of hepatitis B e antigen

(HBeAg), alanine aminotransferase level (ALT), HBV DNA level, number of

platelets and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Measurement of HBsAg was

performed using the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay method. The study group

consisted of 239 men and 185 women, and their average age was

40.6 ± 14.0 years. HBsAg showed a positive correlation with HBV DNA level

(Pearson's product moment correlation, r = 0.586, P < 0.001) and a weak

inverse correlation with age (r = 0.3325, P < 0.001). A control study,

matched with age and sex, was performed between two groups with and without

HBeAg seroconversion during follow-up period. Compared with the age and

sex-matched controls, the change in HBsAg levels per year showed a significant

decrease 2 years before seroconversion (paired t-test, P < 0.05). The

serial measurement of quantitative HBsAg level has the possibility of predicting

the occurrence of HBeAg seroconversion.

© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

PMID: 21914070 [PubMed - in process]