My testing reports are as follows:
Hipatitis B Surface Antibody QL: Non-reactive
Hipatitis B core AB Total: Reactive
Hipatitis BE Antigen: Non-reactive
Hipatitis BE Antibody: Reactive
Hipatitis B Surface Antigen: Reactive
Hipatitis B Viral DNA
HEP B Viral DNA IU/ML: 213000
HEP B Viral DNA COPIES/ML: 589632
AST: 24 U/T
ALLT: 22 U/T
Alpha-Fetoprotien tumor marker: 2.2 ng/mL
Liver function: Normal
Liver ultrasound: normal
It is my understanding that the positive Hepatitis B Surface antigen means that the individual (me) is infected with the hepatitis B virus. However, not all hepatitis B infections are the same. Some infections are active (or replicating) and some are not active (non-replicating) Patients who do not have an active, replicating form of the virus are often said to be in a “carrier” state.
To figure out if you have a replicating or non-replicating hepatitis B infection, we usually check the markers of viral replication. These are the Hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg) and the hepatitis B DNA. If both these tests are positive, they would suggest an individual has an active, replicating infection and they might be a candidate for treatment. If they are negative, they suggest the hepatitis B infection is not active and should not cause liver disease. These individual do not need to be treated, they do not respond to treatment and we do not treat these individuals although they need to be screened periodically for liver cancer which can arise in some patients with a chronic hepatitis B infection. Many patients who are HBsAg positive but not replicating often lose their infection spontaneously over time. Furthermore, individuals who have a non-replicating form of infection are still infectious to others.
I have HBeAg negative; but, Hepatitis B DNA positive. Do I have an active, replicating infection? Should I be a candidate for treatment? Is Tyzeka a good treatment for me?