New findings reported from S.E. Livingston and co-authors describe advances in hepatitis B virus
2008 JAN 14 -- According to a study from the United States, "Persistence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in chronic hepatitis B has been associated with increased risk for development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Five hepatitis B virus genotypes were identified in Alaska Native persons; we analyzed clearance of HBeAg by age and genotype." "In this prospective cohort study, 1158 Alaska Native persons throughout Alaska were tested serially for HBeAg for a median of 20.5 years and were genotyped. Initial and final HBeAg-positive specimens, time to clearance, age at clearance, and subsequent HBeAg results were analyzed for persons initially HBeAg-positive. Subsequent HBeAg results were analyzed for persons initially negative. Genotypes A, B, C, D, and F were identified. Genotype C persons initially HBeAg-positive were more likely than those with other genotypes to be positive on initial and final specimens (P <.001 for each) and time to HBeAg clearance was longer (P <.001). Age at which 50% of persons cleared HBeAg was <20 years for those infected with genotypes A, B, D, and F and 47.8 years in genotype C (P <.001). After losing HBeAg, those with genotypes C and F were more likely to revert to the HBeAg-positive state (P <.001). Genotype may have a strong effect on mode of transmission and outcome," wrote S.E. Livingston and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Genotype C may have been responsible for most perinatal transmission, given that seroconversion from HBeAg occurs decades later than in other genotypes." Livingston and colleagues published their study in Gastroenterology (Clearance of hepatitis B e antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B and genotypes A, B, C, D, and F. Gastroenterology, 2007;133(5):1452-1457). For more information, contact S.E. Livingston, Alaska Nat Tribal Health Consortium, Liver Diseases & Hepatitis Program, 4315 Diplomacy Dr., ANC-HEP, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Gastroenterology is: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc., 1600 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Ste. 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899, USA. Keywords: United States, Anchorage, Chronic Hepatitis B, Cirrhosis, Clinical Trial Research, Fibrosis, Gastroenterology, HBV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatocellular Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Oncology, Virology. This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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