Long-term follow-up study of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers with and without hepatitis

Abstract

Two hundred ninety-two cases of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier have been followed prospectively for 5-12 years (mean 7.0 years) with serial serological and biochemical tests.
1) In HBeAg positive cases: The yearly rate of seronegativity for HBeAg (S.N.) and seroconversion to anti-HBe (S.C.) were 5.0%, 3.2%, respectively in asymptomatic HBV carriers with normal liver function (ASC) and were 10.8%, 4.8%, respectively in the patients with chronic liver disease. Improvement of hepatitis following S.N. or S.C. was observed in 25 (96.2%) out of 26 cases of ASC, in 20 (74.1%) out of 27 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) and in one (16.1%) out of six patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) during the follow-up period. Its rate in LC was significantly low compared with that in ASC and CH.
2) In anti-HBe positive cases: Mild liver dysfunction was observed transiently in nine (6.5%) out of 138 cases of ASC and hepatitis improved in seven (30.4%) out of 23 patients with CH but in all four patients withe LC, hepatitis had persisted during the follow-up period.