Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
For most acute Hepatitis
B patients infected with the Hepatitis B virus, a few months of adequate
rest and a healthy diet will return the liver functions and liver enzymes
in the blood to normal. This does not necessarily mean that the patient
is cured: some become chronic carriers and in these the virus still exists
in the liver cells and/or the blood.
Some chronic carriers ("Healthy" carriers) appear to be well,
and may not even know they are infected, perhaps having acquired the virus
at birth from their mothers. Others, chronic active Hepatitis B patients,
do become ill from time to time.In
addition to monitoring liver enzyme levels in the blood, the patient's state
of infection can be accurately determined by evaluating blood test for the
following serum markers: HBeAg, HBeAb, HBsAg, and HBV-DNA
Hepatitis Be Antigen (HBeAg)
A positive result
is an indication of serious and active Hepatitis B virus infection, HBsAg(+);
HBeAg(+) patients have high viral reproduction rates in the liver and virus
levels in the blood are also likely to be high, resulting in a state of
high infectivity. Patients with this serological status are probably chronic
carriers and should have blood tests on a regular basis (even when liver
enzyme values are normal) to monitor the disease progress.
Hepatitis B e Antibody (HBeAb)
The
appearance in the patient blood of HBeAb indicated that the patient immune
system has been activated and is fighting the virus, and is a very encouraging
sign. In cases where the patient’s immune system eliminates the Hepatitis
B e Antigen and becomes HBeAb(+), HBeAg(-), and HBsAg(+), the concentration
of the HBV-DNA in the blood is likely to be negligible. It also indicates
that the viruses in the liver are essentially inactive and no longer damaging
the liver cells. The possibility of further liver damage is dramatically reduced;
as a result, chances of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer are kept at minimal.
Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg)
This demonstrates
the existence of Hepatitis B virus in the body, either active or dormant.
When a patient is HBsAg(+), this is an accurate indicator of Hepatitis B
infection but it does not, by itself, give us information on the seriousness
of infection, whether it is acute or chronic, or the prognosis.
Hepatitis B Virus DNA (HBV-DNA)
This marker indicates
the presence of the virus in the blood. Combined with an HBeAg(+) result,
it confirms active viral replication in the liver. HBV-DNA tests can be
used to follow up the efficacy of a drug treatment, and prognosis ca be
based in part on the amount of viral DNA in the blood. Any reliable scientific
evidence relating to drug efficacy must include data based on HBV-DNA levels.