Chronic hepatitis B: correlation between viral replication and clinical course.

Abstract

Twenty carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were followed for two to seven years, and their histologic progression was correlated with HBV core-associated DNA polymerase (DNAP) activity as a marker of viral replication. Seventeen patients were divided into two groups according to their pattern of viral replication: group 1, consistently high levels of DNAP; group 2, low levels of DNAP. Chronic persistent hepatitis predominated in group 1; chronic active hepatitis predominated in group 2. The three remaining patients were consistently negative for DNAP. In two patients in group 2, prominent viral replication preceded a transient increase in transaminase levels, as in acute hepatitis. Although groups 1 and 2 were distinct in their patterns of viral replication, they did not differ significantly in histologic progression. Thus, viral replication is related, at least in part, to hepatic cell necrosis but does not correlate closely with progression to liver cirrhosis.

• Authors: R Kinoshita, K Miura, H Uchino, A Konishi, T Nakagawa, Y Imai
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 144 Issue 4 Pg. 303-6 (Oct 1981) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7288210 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Alanine Transaminase
• DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

Topics

• Adult
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Carrier State (blood)
• Chronic Disease
• DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase (blood)
• Female
• Hepatitis B (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (physiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Virus Replication