Detection of hepatitis B activity in HBeAg-negative carriers with normal aminotransferase levels in central Brazil.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection may follow a benign course with low risk of cirrhosis or liver cancer. As differentiation of inactive status from HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B is often challenging, monitoring of inactive HBV carriers is important to detect viral relapse or formerly undetected activity. The incidence of hepatitis activity in HBeAg-negative carriers with normal aminotransferases was examined by retrospective analysis of a cohort of carriers who had been followed-up at a hospital in Central Brazil. All patients had remained free of evidence of liver disease and maintained normal aminotransferase levels throughout the first year of follow-up. The incidence density of chronic HBV activity was determined and an incidence curve was constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models were developed to identify for surrogate markers of activity.

RESULTS:

Among the 224 patients who comprised the cohort, chronic HBV activity was detected in 30 during followup. The incidence density of activity was 11.8 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval: 8.3-16.9). The results of Cox regression analysis indicated that chronic HBV activity was associated with entrance in the latter years of the period examined (p = 0.001) and initial normal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels close to the upper-normal value (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION:

Normal AST levels near the upper-normal value may be an indicator of relapse or previously undetected activity, and should thus be monitored closely in HBeAg-negative HBV carriers, in whom risk of relapse should remain an important managing consideration.

• Authors: Flávio V Barbosa-Júnior, Rafaela de L P Sanchez-Lermen, Karina de A Vieira, Renata V de Oliveira, Francisco J D Souto
• Journal: Annals of hepatology (Ann Hepatol) 2015 Jul-Aug Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pg. 470-6 ISSN: 1665-2681 [Print] Mexico
• PMID: 26019033 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Brazil (epidemiology)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Recurrence
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Time Factors
• Young Adult