Clinicopathological features of patients with HBeAg-positive/negattve chronic hepatitis B / 中华临床感染病杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo identify the differences in clinicopathological features between HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). MethodsA total of 665 CHB patients who were admitted to Ningbo No. 2 Hospital during June 2002 and January 2010 were enrolled, in which 428 were HBeAg-positive and 237 were HBeAg-negative. HBV DNA loads, live histological inflammation grades and fibrosis stages were compared between two groups. SPSS 1 1. 5 was used for statistical analysis.For measurement data, t (for normal distribution) or Mann-Whitney U (for skew distribution) was performed; for enumeration data, Chi-square test was performed; and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted. ResultsLiver inflammatory grade and fibrosis staging in HBeAg-negative CHB patients were more severe than those in HBeAg-positive patients (x2 = 7.92 and 10.35, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The ratio of serum HBV DNA levels ＜ 3, ≥3- ＜ 5 log10 copies/mL in HBeAg-negative CHB patients were significant higher than those in HBeAg-positive patients (x2 = 105.16 and 36.92 ,P ＜0.01 ) ; and the ratio of HBV DNA ≥7 log10 copies/mL in HBeAg-negative group was lower than that in HBeAg-positive group (x2 = 110. 18, P ＜0. 01 ). With the rising of serum HBV DNA levels, liver inflammatory grade and fibrosis staging in HBeAg-positive patients had a descending tendency (r =-0. 287 and-0. 224, P ＜0.01 ), while those in the HBeAg-negative group were ascending (r = 0. 360 and 0. 303, P ＜ 0. 01 ). ConclusionCompared with HBeAg-positive CHB patients, liver inflammation and tissue damage in HBeAg-negative patients are more severe, which need close monitoring.