Histological distribution of hepatitis B core antigen and its prognostic significance in chronic hepatitis type B

Abstract

Biopsied liver specimens from 69 patients carrying HBsAg positive chronic hepatitis in whom 27 patients were treated with interferon because of HBeAg positive were used to investigate prognostic significance of HBcAg in chronic hepatitis.
There was a quantitative correlation between HBcAg in liver tissue and serum HBV markers (HBeAg, DNA polymerase, HBV-DNA). In addition, expression of HBcAg in the liver was characteristic in accordance with histological activity of chronic hepatitis. That is, cytoplasmic localization of HBcAg was observed predominantly in the livers from chronic active hepatitis.
Effect of interferon was seen in the patients whose livers showed lesser quantitative but cytoplasmic distribution of HBcAg. Therefore, it is very helpful for assuming the prognosis of chronic hepatitis and indication of interferon therapy to study the types of HBcAg distribution in the livers.