Detection of hepatitis B activity in HBeAg-negative carriers with normal aminotransferase levels in central Brazil



Document title: Detection of hepatitis B activity in HBeAg-negative carriers with normal aminotransferase levels in central Brazil
Journal: Annals of hepatology
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000411745
ISSN: 1665-2681
Authors: 1
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Institutions: 1Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Hospital Universitario Julio Muller, Cuiaba, Mato Grosso. Brasil
Year:
Season: Jul-Ago
Volumen: 14
Number: 4
Pages: 470-476
Country: México
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Analítico, descriptivo
English abstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection may follow a benign course with low risk of cirrhosis or liver cancer. As differentiation of inactive status from HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B is often challenging, monitoring of inactive HBV carriers is important to detect viral relapse or formerly undetected activity. The incidence of hepatitis activity in HBeAg-negative carriers with normal aminotransferases was examined by retrospective analysis of a cohort of carriers who had been followed-up at a hospital in Central Brazil. All patients had remained free of evidence of liver disease and maintained normal aminotransferase levels throughout the first year of follow-up. The incidence density of chronic HBV activity was determined and an incidence curve was constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models were developed to identify for surrogate markers of activity. Results. Among the 224 patients who comprised the cohort, chronic HBV activity was detected in 30 during followup. The incidence density of activity was 11.8 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval: 8.3-16.9). The results of Cox regression analysis indicated that chronic HBV activity was associated with entrance in the latter years of the period examined (p = 0.001) and initial normal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels close to the upper-normal value (p = 0.022). Conclusion. Normal AST levels near the upper-normal value may be an indicator of relapse or previously undetected activity, and should thus be monitored closely in HBeAg-negative HBV carriers, in whom risk of relapse should remain an important managing consideration
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Diagnóstico,
Gastroenterología,
Hepatitis B,
Portadores asintomáticos,
Cirrosis,
Aminotransferasas
Keyword: Medicine,
Diagnosis,
Gastroenterology,
Hepatitis B,
Asymptomatic carriers,
Cirrhosis,
Aminotransferases
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