• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.727-731
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• 2002

Purpose : The objectives of this study are to evaluate the significance of HBeAg positivity in infants born to HBeAg and HBsAg positive mothers. Methods : The HBeAg status of 22 HBeAg positive, HBsAg negative infants born to HBeAg and HBsAg positive mothers from December 1996 to March 1999 were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. Results : The number of HBsAg positive carrier mothers was 213(4.9%) out of 4,338 pregnant women. HBeAg was positive in 76(41.5%) out of 183 HBsAg positive mothers. Only 49 infants born to 76 HBeAg positive mothers could be evaluated; 36 infants were HBeAg positive and HBsAg negative. Laboratory follow up was possible in 22 infants. HBeAg disappeared in 7 cases within two months and in 20 cases within 12 months(over 90%). Ultimately, twenty-two babies who were HBsAg-negative and HBeAg-positive became negative for HBeAg, however, one showed HBsAg in follow up of 6 months of age. Conclusion : HBeAg positivity in infants born to HBeAg positive mothers may result from the maternofetal transmission and this HBeAg eventually disappeared without clinical significance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.78-81
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• 2008

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated unstable serum data of HBe antigen (HBeAg) or HBe antibody (HBeAb) in patients who experienced HBeAg seroconversion. This study have been performed to assist a medical technologist in the recognition of patients who were chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Materials and Methods: A total number of 3 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients experienced HBeAg seroconversion. Serum data of HBeAg and HBeAb were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: The data of HBeAg or HBeAb showed an unstable change during seroconversion from HBeAg to HBeAb in chronic type B hepatitis (CBH). Conclusions: Serum data of HBeAg or HBeAb can change during HBe seroconversion. These data suggest that patients with HBe seroconversion can experience an unstable oscillation of HBeAg or HBeAb value from positive to negative. Unstable data can appear naturally due to the seroconversion process.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 1997

The identification of serum HBV DNA is very important for the assessment of the disease activity in persistent infection, for the evaluation of the infectivity of an individuals blood. The dot blot, however, has limited sensitivity and sometimes inconsistent with other serological markers and clinical settings. Using the most important recent advance in molecular biology, the polymerase chain reaction(PCR), specific DNA sequences can be amplified more than a million-fold in a few hours and with this technique the detection of the extreme low level of DNA is possible. This study was to determine sensitivity of the PCR for the detection of serum HBV DNA in comparison with dot blot analysis and to investigate the serum HBV DNA status and clinical significance of PCR in patients with chronic HBsAg positive liver disease. The subjects of this study were 17 patients with asymptomatic HBsAg carriers(9 HBeAg positive patients, 8 anti-HBe positive patients), 91 chronic hepatitis B(50 HBeAg positive patients, 41 anti-HBe positive patients), 57 liver cirrhosis(21 HBeAg positive patients, 36 anti-HBe positive patients), 27 hepatocellular carcinoma(10 HBeAg positive patients, 17 anti-HBe positive patients). The results were summerized as following; The detection rates of HBV DNA by dot blot, PCR were 58.9%, 72.2% in HBeAg positive patients, 34.3%, 53.9% in anti-HBe positive patients. The detection rates of HBV DNA by PCR in HBeAg negative patients were 25.0% in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, 61.0% in chronic hepatitis B, 52.8% in liver cirrhosis, 52.9% in hepatocellular carcinoma. The positive rate for HBV DNA is a significant difference between HBeAg positive and negative asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, but not significantly difference in other groups. In conclusions, this study confirmed that the PCR is much more sensitive than the dot blot analysis in detecting the HBV DNA in the sera of patients with chronic liver disease. The presence of HBV DNA in the serum was detected by PCR with higher sensitivity and it suggested that active viral replication is still going on in most patients with chronic HBsAg positive liver disease irrespective of HBeAg/anti-HBe status, and PCR may be used as a prognostic factor in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.1 s.25
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• pp.65-70
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• 1989

To examine the association between serum HBeAg status and tuberculosis infection, we reviewed medical records of 579 inpatients who had serum HBeAg test with RIA method at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Kyungpook University Hospital from January 1, 1985 to December 31, 1987. HBeAg positive patients had lower tuberculosis infection rate(5.0%) than that of HBeAg negative patients(9.8%) and the odds ratio of HBeAg associated with tuberculosis was 0.48(95% C.I.:0.22-1.08). Similar relationship was found in the patients of hepatobiliary diseases; tuberculosis infection rate was 4.4% in HBeAg positive patients, 8.1% in HBeAg negative patients, and the odds ratio was 0.52(95% C.I.:0.17-1.35). Although the association did not reach the statistical significance level of 0.05, the negative association was consistent with other study done on Southeast Asian population of Philadelphia. A cohort study in general population is warranted to confirm above findings because of the limitations on hopital-based data.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 1998

만성 B형 간염 환자에서 Interferon (IFN) 치료 후 혈청 HBeAg 소실 및 anti-HBe의 양전율을 높이고 효율적인 치료의 근거를 알기 위하여 치료 전 간기능검사상 갑자기 상승한 혈청 ALT치를 나타낸 환자군과 그렇지 않은 대조군을 대상으로 하여 IFN을 투여한 군과 IFN 치료없이 정상 HBeAg의 자연 소실을 보인 환자군을 임상적으로 장기간 관찰하고 조사하였다. ALT치가 정상 상한치의 4배 이상 높이 증가되어 3개월 이상 왕복을 보인 40명의 환자(A군)와 ALT치가 정상 상한치의 3배 이하로 증가된 10명(B군)에게 ${\alpha}$-IFN 2b를 매일 300만 단위 피하주사로 3~12개월 주사하였다. 대조군으로는 ALT치가 A군처럼 장승한 45명 (C군)이었으며, IFN 치료없이 평균 2.9년을 관찰하였다. HBeAg/anti-HBe 혈청 양전율은 A군 68%, B군 20%, C군 13%이었으며 IFN 치료 중단 후 1년까지의 HBeAg 재양성율은 A군에서 29%였고 HBeAg이 소실된 A와 B군의 38명중에서 6명에서 HBV DNA가 양성이었다. 6명중 4명은 HBeAg/anti-HBe 양전을 보였으나 HBV DNA 양성이었고 나머지 2명은 HBeAg, anti-HBe 및 HBV DNA (hybridization) 모두 음성이었으나 중합효소연쇄반응검사상 HBV DNA 양성이었다. 이상의 결과를 보면 비록 IFN 치료 후에 HBeAg이 소실되었다가 다시 양성화되더라도 IFN은 단기간내에 혈중 HBeAg이나 DNA가 자연적으로 감소가 될 환자나 그렇지 않은 환자에게도 HBV의 비증식화를 유발하여 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다. 그러나 IFN 투여 후에도 혈중 HBeAg과 DNA 소실에 전혀 도움이 되지 않을 환자 및 HBV 증식 억제효과가 기대되는 HBV 간질환 환자의 조건, IFN 투여량, 기간 등에 대한 계획적이고 체계적인 연구로 더 나은 치료효과를 기대할 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2004

Purpose : The serial clinical findings, biochemical results, and serological hepatitis B virus(HBV) markers in Korean children with chronic HBV infection were analyzed to determine the relationships among these factors. Methods : Ninety children have been chosen from those who have visited to the Department of Pediatrics at St. Vincent's Hospital in The Catholic University of Korea from July 1st, 1995 to June 30th, 2000. The sample patients were followed up for over six months. HBV markers and liver function tests were all performed. Results : All children were asymptomatic at presentation. Eighty-three percent of the children had a history of chronic HBV infection in their families. Eighty-one percent were HBeAg positive, 16% were anti-HBe positive, while 3% were all HBeAg and anti-HBe negative. The prevalence of HBeAg among three age groups : 0~5; 6~10; and 11~15 year-old was 90%, 96% and 61% respectively. The prevalence of HBeAg in less than 10 year-old group was significantly higher than 11~15 year-old group(P=0.001). Serum ALT levels were within 40 IU/L in 64% children, 41~80 IU/L in 17%, 81~200 IU/L in 10%, and beyond 201 IU/L in 9%. The percentage of abnormality of ALT levels in HBeAg positive patients was significantly higher than that of HBeAg negative(P=0.036). Eleven of the 73 HBeAg positive children lost their HBeAg and seroconverted to anti-HBe. In these cases, all had transient elevations in ALT levels before HBeAg seroconversions. The annual rates of spontaneous seroconversion of HBeAg and HBsAg were 9.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Conclusion : Recognition of the dynamics of these changes in viral markers and biochemical findings is needed in the selection and evaluation of therapeutic regimens, establishment of treatment, and calling for controlled trials with adequate follow-up. The hepatitis B carrier state may be asymptomatic in children however, continued surveillance of carriers is important to determine the individual adverse prognostic factors of chronic HBV infections.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 1987

To evealuate the status of hepatitis B virus infection in the mothers and neonates and to determine the maternal-neonatal transmission of hepatitis B virus, 2,276 term pregnant women were screened for the presence of serum HBsAg, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeungnam University Hospital, during the period of 18 months from Jan. 1986 to Jun. 1987, and the sera of sixty-six HBsAg carrier mothers and their neonates were tested for HBV markers and liver enzymes. The results were as follows : 1. The prevalence rate of asymptomatic HBsAg carrier in the term pregnant women was 4.7%(53/1,279). 2. Positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs 10 the sera of sixty-six neonates born to asymptomatic HBsAg carrier mothers were 12.1% and 9.1%, respectively. Transient elevation of SGOT(three to four times of upper normal limit) was detected in one of eight HBsAg-positive neonates and one of six anti-HBs positive neonates. 3. Positive rates of anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe to the sera of sixty-six asymptomatic HBsAg carrier term pregant women were 93.9%, 45.5% and 50%, respectively. The rates of transmission of maternal anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe to the neonates were 85.5%(53/62), 90%(27/30) and 87.9%(29/33). respectively. 4. Serum HBsAg was detected in four of thirty neonates born to HBeAg positive HBsAg carrier mother, three of thirty-three neonates born to anti-HBe positive HBsAg carrier mothers, and one of three neonates born to both HBeAg and anti-HBe negative HBsAg carrier mothers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5515-5519
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• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss469415590 in the interferon lambda-4 (IFNL4) gene has recently been reported to have an association with treatment response in chronic hepatitis C. However, any importance of the SNP in association with response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed data for Thai patients with CHB treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Virological response (VR) for HBeAg-positive CHB was defined as HBeAg seroconversion plus HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 24 weeks post-treatment. VR for HBeAg-negative CHB was defined as an HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 48 weeks. The SNP was identified by real time PCR using the TaqMan genotyping assay with MGB probes. A total 254 patients (107 HBeAg-positive and 147 HBeAg-negative) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of TT/TT, ${\Delta}G/TT$ and ${\Delta}G/{\Delta}G$ genotypes was 221 (87.0%), 32 (12.6%) and 1 (0.4%), respectively. Patients with non-TT/TT genotypes had significantly higher baseline HBV DNA levels than patients with the TT/TT genotype. In HBeAg-positive CHB, 41.2% of patients with TT/TT genotype versus 50.0% with non-TT/TT genotype achieved VR (P=0.593). In HBeAg-negative CHB, the corresponding figures were 40.3% and 43.5%, respectively (P=0.777). There was no significant correlation between the SNP genotypes and HBsAg clearance in both groups of patients. In summary, ss469415590 genotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN in Thai patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.529-538
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this case study is to report the efficacy and safety of treatment with Korean medicine of a patient with HBeAg-positive chronic viral hepatitis B.Methods: The patient took Korean medicine (mainly Injinchunggan-tang-gamibang) from July 20th, 2010, to March 14th, 2016, without any antiviral or interferon therapy. Changes to laboratory records, abdomen ultrasonography, and clinical symptoms were reviewed.Results: The laboratory records showed that AST, ALT, and HBV DNA had decreased to normal ranges, and HBeAg showed seroconversion. Clinical symptoms also improved after taking Korean medicine.Conclusion: The results suggest that treatment with Korean medicine and without antiviral or interferon therapy could be effective for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.203-210
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• 1984

Primary screening test for serum HBsAg by RPHA from 4,805 persons who were clinically well through preemployment examination for the period of one calendar year of 1983 revealed 476 (9.9%) positive individual carriers. There were no significant differences in distribution of positives of serum HBsAg by age group, profession, or province area. Among positives of serum HBsAg, 356 (74.8%) showed normal findings and 120 (25.2%) showed abnormal findings in liver function test, respectively. Radioimmunoassay was done in 169 positives of HBsAg and RIA detected 10 negative persons who were positive by RPHA revealing 5.9% of false positive rate and 94.1% of sensitivity of RPHA. In RIA profile of HBV markers, pattern I (HBsAg+, Anti-HBe+) was 46.6%, pattern II (HBsAg+, HBeAg+) was 33.3%, pattern III (HBsAg+only) was 18.3%, pattern IV (HBsAg+, HBeAg+, Anti-HBs+) was 1.3%, pattern V (HBsAg+, HBeAg+, Anti-HBe+) was 0.6%, respectively. There were no positives of HBsAg among 10 persons who were negatives of HBsAg by RIA.