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Hepatitis B viral factors and clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis B

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Journal of Biomedical Science

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important health problem and the major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The natural history of chronic HBV infection can be divided into 4 dynamic phases in HBV carriers who acquire the virus early in life. In general, the frequency and severity of hepatitis flares in the immune clearance or reactivation phase predict disease progression in HBV carriers, and early HBeAg seroconversion typically confers a favorable outcome. In contrast, late or absent HBeAg seroconversion after multiple hepatitis flares accelerates the progression of chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis. Recently, several hepatitis B viral factors predictive of clinical outcomes have been identified. For example, serum HBV DNA level at enrollment is the best predictor of adverse outcomes (cirrhosis, HCC and death from liver disease) in adults with chronic HBV infection. In addition, HBV genotype C, basal core promoter (BCP) mutant and pre-S deletion mutant are associated with increased risk of HCC development. In conclusion, hepatitis B viral factors such as serum HBV DNA level, genotype and mutants have already been clarified to influence disease progression of chronic hepatitis B. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of each viral factor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Ren-Ai branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chih-Lin Lin

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

  3. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

  4. Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, 1 Chang-Te St., Taipei, 100, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

  5. Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

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Lin, CL., Kao, JH. Hepatitis B viral factors and clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis B. J Biomed Sci 15, 137–145 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11373-007-9225-8

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