Virus receptors for polymerized human albumin: A prognostic marker in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis type B?

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Abstract
Seventeen out of 30 patients with chronic hepatitis type B with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in serum remained persistently positive for e antigen, while 13 seroconverted to antibody (anti‐HBe) when followed over a period of one to five years. Initial levels of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, such as the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, and HBV‐DNA polymerase (HBV‐DNAP) were similar in the two groups of patients, while initial titres of the HBsAg‐associated receptor for polymerized human serum albumin (pHSA), recently identified on HBV particles, were significantly higher in the patients who remained HBeAg positive (mean titre ± SD = 2−7.00 ± 2 −3.2) compared to the cases who eventually seroconverted to anti‐HBe during the follow‐up (2−2.54 ± 2−2.14 P < 0.001). A receptor titre above 1:64 by haemagglutination was highly predictive of persistence of HBeAg, suggesting that in patients with HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis testing for the HBsAg‐associated pHSA receptor may be useful in predicting the duration of HBe antigenaemia, with relevant clinical and prognostic implications.