Long-Term Outcomes in Carriers of Inactive Hepatitis B Virus

Such carriers are at elevated risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis — and likely require long-term follow-up.

Previous data from a prospective cohort study in Taiwan demonstrated an increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis among hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients with viral loads ≥10,000 copies/mL (JW Gastroenterol Mar 14 2006 and JW Gastroenterol Jun 13 2006). Now, a report from the same study describes these risks among 1932 carriers of inactive HBV (i.e., nonreplicative HBV infection), compared with 18,137 controls.

By definition, the carriers of inactive HBV met the following criteria at study entry: an HBV DNA level <10,000 copies/mL, a normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (<45 U/L), hepatitis B e antigen negativity, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity. The controls were all HBsAg negati…

Reviewing Author

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Long-Term Outcomes in Carriers of Inactive Hepatitis B Virus

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Reviewing Author