Summary
To investigate HBV infection in anti-HBe positive Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis, demonstration of intrahepatocellular HBV-DNA was performed by in situ hybridization technique, coupled with detection of intrahepatic HPcAg and HBsAg. Eased on the presence or absence of HBV-DNA, HEcAg and HEsAg of 15 cases, three subgroups were identified; 1) 4 cases with HBV active replication characterized by intrahepatic HBV-DNA, HBcAg and HEsAg copositive; 2) 8 cases with HBV incomplete replication or antigen expression defined as positivity of both intrahepatic HBV-DNA and HBsAg; 3) 3 cases with HBV inactive replication described as absence of intrahepatic HBV-DNA, HBcAg and HBsAg. All findings strongly suggest that different HBV infection status could be distinguished among Chinese patients with seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe positivity: a small number of cases had stopped replication; but part of the cases was still undergoing HBV active replication; on the other hand, HBV infection status in half of the remaining cases seemed to stay in an intermediate phase from active virus replication to inactive replication.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Realdi C, et al. Seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen to anti-HBe in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Gastroenterology 1980; 79:195–9.
Hoofgale JH, et al. Seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen to antibody in chronic type B hepatitis. Ann Intern Med 1981:94:744–8.
Eonino F, et al. Chronic hepatitis in HPsAg carriers with serum HBV-DNA and anti-HEe. Gastroenterology 1986; 90:1268–73.
Negro F, et al. Hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) in anti-HEe positive sera. Liver 1984; 4:177–83.
Su IJ, et al. Diverse virlogical, histopathological and prognostic implications of seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen to anti-HEe in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol 1986; 3:182–9.
Liaw YF, et al. Changes of serum hepatitis B virus DNA in two types of clinical events preceding spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in chronic type B hepatitis. Hepatology 1987; 7:1–3.
Liaw YF, et al. Acute exacerbation in hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic type B hepatitis: a clinicopathological study. J Hepatol 1985; 1:227–33.
Chu CM, et al. Natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Taiwan: studies of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum. Hepatology 1985; 5:431–4.
International Group. Acute and chronic hepatitis revised, Lancet 1977; II:914–7.
Zhang YY, et al. Morphology, Distribution and its significance of intrahepatic HBV DNA in liver disease: a study by in situ hybridization. J Tongji Med Univ 1989; 9:204–9.
Hsu HJ, et al. Biological and prognostic significance of hepatocyte hepatitis B core antigen expression in the natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol 1987; 5:45–50.
Hadziyannis SJ, et al. Analysis of liver disease, nuclear HBcAg, viral replication and hepatitis B virus DNA in liver and serum of HEeAg vs anti-HEe positive carriers of hepatitis B virus. Hepatology 1983; 3:656–62.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yong-yuan, Z., You-kun, W., Lian-jie, H. et al. Investigation of HBV infection status in anti-HBe Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis by in situ hybridization assay. Journal of Tongji Medical University 9, 199–203 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02909083
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02909083