Sex Difference in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: An... : Hepatology (original) (raw)

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Sex Difference in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: An Appraisal Based on the Status of Hepatitis B e Antigen and Antibody

Chu, Chia-Ming1; Liaw, Yun-Fan*, 1; Sheen, I-Shyan1; Lin, Deng-Yn1; Huang, Miau-Ju1

1_Liver Unit, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China_

*Address reprint requests to: Yun-Fan Liaw, M.D., Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Liver Unit, 199 Tung Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, 105, Republic of China.

Received April 07, 1983; Accepted June 01, 1983; previously published online September 21, 2007

Abstract

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe) were studied by radioimmunoassay in consecutive series of 145 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, 389 patients with HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease and 194 patients with HBsAg-positive hepatocellular carcinoma, and compared between male and female subjects. The male to female ratio increased from 1.2 in asymptomatic carriers to 6.3 in chronic liver disease and 9.8 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Abnormal SGPT was much more frequently seen in male carriers than in females (p < 0.01). Contrary to female patients with chronic liver disease, the positive rate for HBeAg in males is lower and tended to decrease with increasing age. It is postulated that male patients with chronic hepatis B virus infection might have higher HBeAg clearance ability that resulted in more frequent hepatitis B virus DNA integration and subsequent development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the ultimate mechanism regulating this difference awaits further study.