| Theme | Prognosis of Liver Diseases | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Natural History and Prognosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection | |
| Publish Date | 1997/10 | |
| Author | Shiro Iino | Department of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, St. Marianna University, School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | The natural course of carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a progression from the initial HBeAg-positive phase to a chronic hepatitis B phase and then to an anti-HBe antibody-positive phase. The majority of patients in the anti-HBe antibody-positive phase are asymptomatic carriers and the prognosis for these patients is good. However, since chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma occur in some patients, periodic close evaluation of the liver disease is regularly necessary. The gene mutation is observed in the HBeAg to anti-HBe transition process and the relationship between the disease features observed in chronic hepatitis B and gene mutation are being clarified by advances in recent HBV genome research. Virologically and from the clinical perspective, however, many aspects of the natural course of HBV carriers remain unknown or unresolved, and these facets of the carrier state are emphasized herein. |
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