Lin C.-L.TAI-CHUNG TSENGTUNG-HUNG SUCHUN-JEN LIUPEI-JER CHENLai M.-Y.DING-SHINN CHENJIA-HORNG KAO2021-03-092021-03-0920121936-0533https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84984565011&doi=10.1007%2fs12072-011-9297-4&partnerID=40&md5=c14f5a8ada1478874b2cc0b98690867bhttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/551138Purpose A significant portion of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients have persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels (PNALT). We thus investigated host genetic variants and virological features in HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers. Methods Baseline clinical and virological features of 133 HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers (77 with PNALT and 56 with chronic hepatitis activity) with follow-up for more than 5 years were investigated. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within or around human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPA1, HLA-DPB1, and interleukin (IL) 28B loci were genotyped. Results The genotype frequencies of these SNPs were comparable between hepatitis B carriers with PNALT and those with chronic hepatitis. Compared with hepatitis B carriers with PNALT, those with chronic hepatitis had significantly higher baseline serum HBV-DNA levels (4.96 vs. 4.04 log10 IU/ml, P = 0.001). Baseline serum HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/ml (OR, 8.42; 95% CI, 2.74-25.90, P<0.001) were the only independent factor associated with chronic hepatitis activity. Changes of serum HBV-DNA in 30 hepatitis B carriers with PNALT had showed a significant reduction of viral load frombaseline to last visit (mean difference of paired HBV-DNA levels:-0.78 log10 IU/ml, 95%CI:-1.57 to -0.013, P = 0.047). In contrast, no significant reduction of viral load was found in 28 patients with chronic hepatitis. Conclusions The results indicate that lower baseline serum HBV-DNA level and viral load reduction over time are associated with long-term biochemical remission in HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers. ? Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver 2011.[SDGs]SDG3alanine aminotransferase; hepatitis B(e) antigen; HLA DPB1 antigen; interleukin 28B; virus DNA; adult; aged; alanine aminotransferase blood level; allele; article; biochemistry; clinical feature; female; follow up; gene; gene frequency; genetic variability; genotype; hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; HLA DPA1 gene; HLA DPB1 gene; human; IL28B gene; major clinical study; male; polymorphic locus; priority journal; remission; single nucleotide polymorphism; virus carrier; virus loadjournal article10.1007/s12072-011-9297-42-s2.0-84984565011