Monitoring of HBe antigen and alanine aminotransferase levels in hepatitis B virus DNA positive patients

ABSTRACT

A retrospective study was conducted on specimens collected during 2002-2004, in which the data obtained from 413 individuals were analyzed for HBV-DNA, ALT and HBe antigen. Two hundred patients were found negative for HBV-DNA and were not included in the study. The remaining 213 patients were selected on the basis of their HBV-DNA detection. HBe antigen was assayed using micro particle enzyme immunoassay [MEIA] technique, manufactured by [Abbott, USA]. Out of 213 patients, 167 [78%] were male. The mean age of the sample population was 25.4 years [range 2-80 years]. Highest ALT value observed was 1192 IU/L whereas mean ALT was 47. 6 IU/L. HBe antigen was reactive in 193 [91%] cases. The absence of HBe antigen in HBV-DNA positive patients may have been due to the presence of precore mutations because HBV exhibits a higher mutational frequency than most DNA viruses. Patients with HBe antigen positive disease were younger than the HBe antigen negative patients [p < 0.05] and their mean ALT was also higher. However, it did not reach upto significant level but a direct significant association was observed between ALT levels and HBe antigen titres at p<0.05