Encouraging findings for hepatitis b carriers

The statement on the benign course after HBeAg-seroconversion has recently been challenged for Asian patients infected at birth or early childhood.4 However, two recent European studies have provided further evidence confirming the almost uniform non-progressive nature of the immune control/inactive carrier state phases.5,6 The report from Bortolotti5 describes 91 HBeAg-positive children who entered the long-term follow-up almost 30 years ago. Among 85 children without cirrhosis who seroconverted to anti-HBe, 80 became inactive carriers, 4 rapidly lost HBsAg, and 1 developed HBeAg-negative hepatitis. At the end of the follow-up, 68/80 were still inactive carriers, 9/80 had lost HBsAg, and 3/80 reactivated and developed HBeAg-negative hepatitis. In 4 children with cirrhosis and HBeAg seroclearance, 2/4 remained inactive carriers and 2/4 developed hepatocellular carcinoma.
The second study comprised 296 blood donors found to be HBsAg-positive between 1972-1977.Their course was compared to 157 HBsAg-negative blood donors matched for age, sex, and alcohol intake. At entry to the study, all HBsAg carriers were HBeAg-negative, anti-HBe-positive, and all but four had normal ALT levels. After 22-32 years of follow-up 32/296 patients and 14/157 controls had died. Hepatocellular carcinoma caused death in 2/296 and 1/157 subjects (0.6% in each group); non-liver related death occurred in 29/296 of cases and in 13/157 controls. Survival was independently predicted by older age, abnormal gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels, and the presence of medical comorbidity at baseline. Fifty-nin

[jboyhk]

There is nothing new in that at all. That is roughly what the stats have always showed the past 30 yrs.

It doesn't show you the results of the Tawainese study that showed .6% of inactive carriers go onto develop HCC even without cirrhosis.

[Jimmy1971]

well, we need some hope. don't scare us please I am already scared to death. I wish i can forget about it. i think of it every single minute. all i can say is "God please help us".

[shawn_hsp]

is that 0.6% or 6%?

[Anthony K]

Hi Jimmy, I tried emailing you with the email address you gave me but the mails were returned to me. Kindly check the address and give it back to me or give me an alternative email address.

[Jimmy1971]

Hi Anthony, here is the email address: J_omyan***@****
try it again. I have checked it twice. it worked. Hope you are doing OK!! Jimmy. otherwise give me your email address if you like then i can email you back.