Gastroenterology
Volume 139, Issue 2 , Pages 483-490 , August 2010

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Serum Levels Help to Distinguish Active From Inactive Hepatitis B Virus Genotype D Carriers

  • Maurizia Rossana Brunetto

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests Address requests for reprints to: Maurizia Rossana Brunetto, MD, Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Cisanello, Pisa, Italy. fax: (39) 0509 95457
    • ,
  • Filippo Oliveri

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Piero Colombatto

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Francesco Moriconi

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Pietro Ciccorossi

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Barbara Coco

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Veronica Romagnoli

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Beatrice Cherubini

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Giovanna Moscato

      Affiliations

    • Central Laboratory, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Anna Maria Maina

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Daniela Cavallone

      Affiliations

    • Hepatology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
    • ,
  • Ferruccio Bonino

      Affiliations

    • Chair of Gastroenterology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Received 26 August 2009 ,Accepted 29 April 2010.

References 

  1. Hadziyannis S, Papatheodoridis GV. Hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis: natural history and treatment. Semin Liver Dis. 2006;26:130–141
  2. Chu CJ, Keeffe EB, Han SH, et al. Prevalence of HBV precore/core promoter variants in the United States. Hepatology. 2003;38:619–628
  3. Gaeta GB, Stornaiuolo G, Precone DF, et al. Epidemiological and clinical burden of chronic hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus infection (A multicenter Italian study). J Hepatol. 2003;39:1036–1041
  4. Zarski JP, Marcellin P, Leroy V, et al. Characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B in France: predominant frequency of HBe antigen negative cases. J Hepatol. 2006;45:355–360
  5. Lok ASF, McMahon BJ. Chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2007;45:507–539
  6. De Franchis R, Meucci G, Vecchi M, et al. The natural history of asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. Ann Intern Med. 1993;118:191–194
  7. Manno M, Camma C, Schepis F, et al. Natural history of chronic HBV carriers in Northern Italy: morbidity and mortality after 30 years. Gastroenterology. 2004;127:756–763
  8. Brunetto MR, Oliveri F, Rocca G, et al. Natural course and response to interferon of chronic hepatitis B accompanied by antibody to hepatitis B e antigen. Hepatology. 1989;10:198–202
  9. Fattovich G, Brollo L, Alberti A, et al. Long-term follow-up of anti-HBe-positive chronic active hepatitis B. Hepatology. 1988;8:1651–1654
  10. Brunetto MR, Oliveri F, Coco B, et al. Outcome of anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis B in α-interferon treated and untreated patients: a long term cohort study. J Hepatol. 2002;36:263–270
  11. Iloeje UH, Yang HI, Jen CL, et al. Predicting cirrhosis risk based on the level of circulating hepatitis B viral load. Gastroenterology. 2006;130:678–686
  12. Huo TI, Wu JC, Hwang SJ, et al. Factors predictive of liver cirrhosis in patients with chroni hepatitis B: a multivariate analysis in a longitudinal study. Eur Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2000;12:687–693
  13. Chu CM, Liaw YF. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection acquired in childhood: special emphasis on prognostic and therapeutic implication of delayed HBeAg seroconversion. J Viral Hepat. 2007;14:147–152
  14. Perrillo R. Benefits and risks of interferon therapy for hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2009;49:103–111
  15. Chen CJ, Yang H, Iloeje UH Reveal-HBV Study Group. Hepatitis B virus DNA levels and outcomes in chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2009;49:72–84
  16. Feld JJ, Ayers M, El-Ashry D, et al. Hepatitis B virus DNA prediction rules for hepatitis B e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2007;46:1057–1070
  17. Papatheodoridis GV, Manesis EK, Manolakopoulos S, et al. Is there a meaningful serum hepatitis B virus DNA cutoff level for therapeutic decisions in hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B virus infection?. Hepatology. 2008;48:1451–1459
  18. Ozer J, Ratner M, Shaw M, et al. The current state of serum biomarkers of hepatotoxicity. Toxicology. 2008;245:194–205
  19. Werle-Lapostolle B, Bowden S, Locarnini S, et al. Persistence of cccDNA during the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and decline during adefovir dipivoxil therapy. Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1750–1758
  20. Volz T, Lutgehetmann M, Wachtler P, et al. Impaired intrahepatic hepatitis B virus productivity contributes to low viremia in most HBeAg-negative patients. Gastroenterology. 2007;133:843–852
  21. Brunetto MR, Moriconi F, Bonino F, et al. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen levels: a guide to sustained response to peginterferon alfa-2a in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2009;49:1141–1150
  22. Moucari R, Mackiewicz V, Lada O, et al. Early serum HBsAg drop: a strong predictor of sustained virological response to pegylated interferon alfa-2a in HBeAg-negative patients. Hepatology. 2009;49:1151–1157
  23. Colloredo G, Bellati G, Leandro G, et al. Quantitative analysis of IgM anti-HBc in chronic hepatitis B patients using a new “gray-zone” for the evaluation of “borderline” values. J Hepatol. 1996;25:644–648
  24. Sugiyama M, Tanaka Y, Kato T, et al. Influence of hepatitis B virus genotypes on the intrahepatic and extracellular expression of viral DNA and antigens. Hepatology. 2006;44:915–924
  25. Budkowska A, Dubreuil P, Gerlich WH, et al. Occurrence of pre-S1 antigen in viremic and nonviremic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. J Med Virol. 1988;26:217–225
  26. Stibbe W, Gerlich WH. Characterization of pre-s gene products in hepatitis B surface antigen. Dev Biol Stand. 1983;54:33–43
  27. Stibbe W, Gerlich WH. Variable protein composition of hepatitis B surface antigen from different donors. Virology. 1982;123:436–442
  28. Kuhns M, Busch M. New strategies for blood donor screening for hepatitis B virus: nucleic acid testing versus immunoassay methods. Mol Diagn Ther. 2006;10:77–91
  29. Bréchot C. Pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: old and new paradigms. Gastroenterology. 2004;127(5 Suppl 1):S56–S61

 Conflicts of interest The authors disclose the following: Maurizia Rossana Brunetto was an invited speaker at meetings sponsored by Abbott. The remaining authors disclose no conflicts.

 Funding Supported by an educational grant of the Italian Ministry of Health (“Viral hepatitis emergency: surveillance and management of antiviral resistance to therapy”- n.85 2006); supply of reagents for the laboratory activity; part-time fellowship for a biologist.

PII: S0016-5085(10)00660-8

doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.04.052

Gastroenterology
Volume 139, Issue 2 , Pages 483-490 , August 2010

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution