HBeAg - negative chronic hepatitis B

Last reviewed 01/2018

• HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B
  • a form of the virus that does not cause infected cells to secrete HBeAg has been discovered (sometimes called the 'precore mutant' strain)
  • people can be infected with the so-called HBeAg-negative form of the virus from the beginning, or the viral mutation can emerge later in the course of infection in people initially infected with the HBeAg-positive form of the virus
  • prevalence of HBeAg-negative hepatitis varies geographically; it is more common in Asia and the Mediterranean region than in Northern Europe
  • infection with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B is associated with a fluctuating course and a poor prognosis. Active disease is associated with either persistent elevation of ALT or an erratic pattern of ALT changes with flare-ups resembling acute hepatitis B that can be severe or even fatal
  • few patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B achieve a lasting remission. Progression to cirrhosis of the liver has been estimated to occur in 8-10% of people with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B each year

Reference:

1. NICE (February 2006). Adefovir dipivoxil and peginterferon alfa-2a for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B