Clinical Significance of Quantitative HBs Antigen in the Prediction of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B (original) (raw)

The assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is of great importance in evaluating the phases of chronic hepatitis B viral infection, prompt administration of antiviral therapy, prevention of disease progression and late complications of CHB infection. Aim: to investigate the clinical significance of quantitative HBs antigen as a predictor for liver fibrosis in patients with HBe antigen negative chronic hepatitis B and inactive carriers. Material and Methods: the study included 44 treatment naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B, divided into two groups, HBeAg negative chronic HBV infection or inactive carriers (IC) and HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients. All patients underwent laboratory, serologic testing, ultrasound and transient elastography (TE). In both patient groups, quantitative HBs antigen (HBsQ), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) and liver fibrosis were analyzed. Results: The value of ...