Aa
HbeAg antibodies
My tests show I'm anti-HbeAg positive. Does this have any significance to the severity of my chronic hbv? Also those of us who are chronic hbv carriers with negative HbeAg, does this mean our hbv has undergone mutation, so that it no longer produces eAG?
Hello,
Thank you for the educational response. I've also found the following link very informative about the mutation in hbv, leading to loss of HbeAg in some chronic hbv carriers.
http://depts.washington.edu/hepstudy/hepB/mgmt/precore/discussion.html#ref
From the above information, I've the following caution to all of us hbv carrier seniors, age >35, not on medication:
We've to particulary follow up with our liver function tests, fibroscans, ultrasound, even biopsy if necessary. We should not be decieved by this sneaky mutant HBV.
Thank you for the educational response. I've also found the following link very informative about the mutation in hbv, leading to loss of HbeAg in some chronic hbv carriers.
http://depts.washington.edu/hepstudy/hepB/mgmt/precore/discussion.html#ref
From the above information, I've the following caution to all of us hbv carrier seniors, age >35, not on medication:
We've to particulary follow up with our liver function tests, fibroscans, ultrasound, even biopsy if necessary. We should not be decieved by this sneaky mutant HBV.
This is not unusual during transition from Immune Clearance phase to Immune Control (Low Replication) phase. This state is most likely transient.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
HBeAg status in very important in determining the phase you are in, in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B infection. Generally HBeAg positive indicates a state of high replication rate, as in the Immune Tolerance phase.
After Immune Clearance, most patients will become HBeAg negative and HBeAb positive. Although it is difficult to demonstrate, I believe, HBeAg is still being produced, but far more HBeAb is also being produced, so overall, HBeAg is negative and HBeAb is positive. This phase is called the Immune Control phase (or Low Replication phase), hbvdna should be very low in this phase and the disease is said to be inactive. However for some patients, the virus will mutate, as you stated, and no longer produce HBeAg. When this happens, the virus escapes immune control and hbvdna will rise again - this phase is called HBeAg negative chronic Hepatitis, and treatment is then required.
After Immune Clearance, most patients will become HBeAg negative and HBeAb positive. Although it is difficult to demonstrate, I believe, HBeAg is still being produced, but far more HBeAb is also being produced, so overall, HBeAg is negative and HBeAb is positive. This phase is called the Immune Control phase (or Low Replication phase), hbvdna should be very low in this phase and the disease is said to be inactive. However for some patients, the virus will mutate, as you stated, and no longer produce HBeAg. When this happens, the virus escapes immune control and hbvdna will rise again - this phase is called HBeAg negative chronic Hepatitis, and treatment is then required.
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