Out of 300 million inactive hbv carriers, how many have low hbsag levels?

[itac]

Assuming their hbeag is negative (the virus is not in high replicative stage), how many of those would test for a low hbsag baseline (e.g. Around 1000 ui/ml)? In other words, how many of those are good candidates to peg-inf therapy, and what are the odds of them to seroconvert upon treatment?

Also, what does make some inactive carriers to have low hbsag levels while others might have high levels?

[itac]

Yea I figured he's not the best lol...
But is there a study that shows that fibroscan is superior to fibrotest? I think I saw one study that shows that they are about the same accuracy...

[itac]

Yea I figured he's not the best lol...
But is there a study that shows that fibroscan is superior to fibrotest? I think I saw one study that shows that they are about the same accuracy...

[sorte]

if your doctor prefers FibroTest over Fibroscan he's not the best doctor

[itac]

my genotype test is still pending... hope I will get it the next few days...
Yes, I read that you need to test every 3-4 months the first year to determine if you are really "inactive", it's funny this gi tells me to test only after 1 year... Plus he only ordered FibroTest (FibroSure) which is a blood test for Fibrosis, but he thinks I don't need a FibroScan... Do you think I should get that too?

I don't know if I'm born with it, I'm not immune tolerant right now so I can't tell really... my mom tested positive for the antibody but she doesn't recall getting the vaccine, she didn't test for the core antibody which could tell if she had it at some point or she just got the vaccine... but she will probably test for it soon, so hopefully it should shed some light... I was engaged with some unprotected sex activity with some girls recently, including one from Vietnam, which I read has very high rate of hep b... I'm suspecting I got it from her which was like 2-3 years ago when I dated her, but it's weird cause I was in my early 20's, and being an adult, you would think you would fall in that 95% category who clear out the virus, but what are the odds to fall in the 5% who don't? my infection is clearly chronic since the core igm is negative... I will make sure to test again in few months to see if the hbsag persists beyond the 6 months mark...

[mike9111]

What is ur genotype? If you tell me where your origin i might be able to guess. 1311 iu viral load is good however if you test next day ot might be more or less so it fluctuate. To be considered an inactive carrier you would need to measure every 3 month for 1 year with all viral load below 2000 iu. In my case (look at my other post on my results) it keep fluctuate. I have another tests in june the in september again when i meet my doctor and will repeat fibroscan. Are you born with it? Or you received it at young age?

[itac]

Yes, but interfron might speed up the proccess no? I read that chances for hbeag negative to seroconvert with pef-inf stands on 40%... So I mean you can try to take few shots, then repeat the test in month or two to see if you respond... if not then you just stop... Otherwise you continue until you develop the antibodies (might as well get the vaccine if they don't build up, but clear the hbsag)...

I just spoke with my gi doc, he looked at my results (hbeag neg, dna count 1311 ui/ml and unknown hbsag count - I'm in the US, fibrosis F1) he said no treatment is recommended lol... he said I'm a "carrier" and that peg-inf is very harsh... should repeat maybe again in a year, he said since I'm a white male chances to develop liver cancer are low and maybe I will be a better candidate for treatment in the future with better drugs available. I'm still going for a world renowed hepatologist next week for a second opinion... I'm thinking to go to mexico to get the hbsag levels to see if it's low to start peg-inf treatment...

[mike9111]

I was born with hbv and i'm hbeag neg. my viral load dna value fluctuate between 140 iu lowest to 38000 iu highest. Last year when i was in germany i did my first ever hbsag quantitative and it came at 220 iu/ml. I spoke to my professor which is obe of the best in the states (professor Anna Lok) she told me she doesn't recommend treatment especially because i work and peginterfron will make me tired. My last fibroscan came as 4.9 kpa which considered good. I have most likely a precore mutant since most of genotype D have that type. I think im ready now to start interfron and i will ask for it in my next appointment in september. I will probably be in germany in december so i will take hbsag test one more time and if it come back low then i will start peginterfron in january.
The thing you need to know seroconvert is not easy even for ppl with low hbsag. For example you can have hbsag as low as 10 iu/ml and remain like this for years

[itac]

How long ago was it? You didn't seroconvert since then? Is there a reason why you didn't try peg-inf?

[mike9111]

My hbsag was tested only once and it came at 220 iu/ml im on no treatmentg