Premium
The molecular basis of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative infections
Author(s) -
Miyakawa Y.,
Okamoto H.,
Mayumi M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2893.1997.00101.x
Subject(s) - hbeag , virology , hepatitis b virus , fulminant hepatitis , antigen , immunology , hepatitis b , antibody , phenotype , virus , pathogenesis , hepatitis , medicine , viral hepatitis , biology , hbsag , gene , genetics
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative infections are an unusual form of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in which viral replication and liver damage persist despite antibodies against HBeAg. This form of HBV may be associated with fulminant hepatitis. The molecular basis for an HBeAg‐minus phenotype has been extensively studied and is most often a result of mutations in the precore region. However, other mutations can give rise to this phenotype and their investigation and characterization may reveal new insights into the pathogenesis of chronic viral hepatitis.