HBeAg test in the diagnosis of hepatitis B

This is an automatically translated article.


Hepatitis B is now very common and highly contagious. To accurately diagnose the course and extent of hepatitis B, it is necessary to have tests for HBeAg, HBeAb,...

1. HBeAg . test


HBeAg stands for Hepatitis B envelope Antigen which means the e antigen of the hepatitis B virus. HBeAg is a segment of the capsid antigen of the hepatitis B virus. The presence of HBeAg indicates that the virus is multiplying and has a strong transmissibility. A positive HBeAg is an indicator that the virus is active.
HBeAg negative has 2 possibilities: virus is inactive or virus is active but has mutations in the gene encoding HBeAg synthesis. Confirmation of virus mutation requires testing for HBVDNA and HBV genotyping.
Seroconversion in hepatitis B virus infection occurs when the HBeAg antigen changes from (+) to (-) and Anti-HBe (HBeAb) antibodies are present.

Trắc nghiệm: Làm thế nào để bảo vệ lá gan khỏe mạnh?

Làm test trắc nghiệm kiểm tra hiểu biết về gan có thể giúp bạn nhận thức rõ vai trò quan trọng của gan, từ đó có các biện pháp bảo vệ gan để phòng ngừa bệnh tật.

2. What is a positive HBeAg?

The HBeAg test is one of the tests done to assess the ability of the hepatitis B virus to spread to healthy people. There will be two cases when performing an HBeAg test: positive HBeAg and negative HBeAg. With each test result, it can help the doctor based on that to assess whether to treat or not or give a treatment plan based on the progress of the disease. When the HBeAg test is positive. , along with elevated liver enzymes, the liver has signs of inflammation, which means that the hepatitis B virus is in an active state and is causing some damage in the liver, causing inflammation and potentially infectious disease. high infection. Therefore, it is necessary to apply treatment measures in case the hepatitis B virus is in an active state in order to achieve the effect of bringing this hepatitis B virus to a dormant state, helping the human body to recover. The disease can stabilize the functioning of the liver, and minimize the infection and prevent the possibility that the disease can cause dangerous complications. In this condition, two possibilities can also appear. Those functions are:
HBeAg is positive but has not caused damage to liver function. This condition may have the potential to put the hepatitis B virus into a simpler dormant state. Positive HBeAg damaged liver cells and affected liver functions. At this time, it is necessary to take immediate measures to prevent this situation. During the treatment of hepatitis B, the HBeAg test is an indicator to assess whether the treatment is effective or not. If after a course of treatment, the positive HBeAg index returns to negative, along with a number of other indicators such as AST and ALT liver enzymes showing signs of decrease, HBV-DNA quantification is below the detection threshold, Patients can temporarily stop taking anti-hepatitis B antiviral drugs and can have regular health check-ups so that the disease can be effectively controlled. It is especially important to note that patients with a positive HBeAg test (+) during pregnancy have an extremely high chance of transmitting hepatitis B to the fetus. Especially during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary for the mother to have regular health check-ups to control the disease, and to grasp the possibility of mother-to-child transmission.
See more: Hepbest drug treats chronic hepatitis B virus infection

3. What is a negative HBeAg?


HBeAg negative is the HBeAg test indicator that shows that the hepatitis B virus is in a dormant state, temporarily inactive, the level causing liver damage at this time is very low, the possibility of infection is not high. At this time, the patient does not need to use antiviral drugs for hepatitis B. However, the doctor still recommends that you go to the doctor once every 3 months to be able to best control your health status and level. Hepatitis B virus activity If not increased, liver enzyme tests can be performed every 6-12 months.

4. Chronic hepatitis B with negative HBeAg values


Gói sàng lọc gan mật giúp khách hàng đánh giá khả năng làm việc của gan thông qua các xét nghiệm men gan
Gói sàng lọc gan mật giúp khách hàng đánh giá khả năng làm việc của gan thông qua các xét nghiệm men gan

For patients with chronic hepatitis B but negative HBeAg test. But for patients with liver enzymes AST-ALT increased from 1-2 times, it is necessary to test liver enzymes and HBV-DNA every 3 months, if the patient is over 40 years old, quantify hepatitis. If B does not change, then a liver biopsy is needed to evaluate for liver necrosis, which needs to be treated if the liver is severely infected, necrotic or fibrous.
HBeAg negative depends on other criteria.
Specifically when HBeAg (-).But HBV-DNA gives a load of 10^4 copies/ml. At the same time, the treatment still needs to be maintained. If the HBeAg test turns negative but HbsAg remains positive and HBV-DNA. Through the criteria for starting treatment and ending treatment of the World Hepatobiliary Association, it can be seen that the determination of hepatitis B treatment when HBeAg is negative, depends on other criteria. Specifically, when HBeAg (-) but HBV DNA gives a load of 10^4 copies/ml, HbsAg (+), liver enzymes increase by 2 times or more, the patient still needs drug treatment.
Many factors are needed to decide whether to treat or discontinue treatment. At the same time, the treatment still needs to be maintained. If only HBeAg changes to (-) but HbsAg remains (+) and HBV DNA has not fallen below the detection threshold and liver enzymes have not returned to normal, the patient still needs to adhere to the treatment course.
After finishing treatment, it is still necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, implement a balanced diet, exercise moderately to ensure the improvement of resistance to prevent the virus from reactivating and multiplying. cause recurrent hepatitis B.
When it has not fallen below the detection threshold and liver enzymes have not returned to normal, the patient still needs to follow the treatment regimen of the doctor.
After the end of the treatment process, the patient still needs to pay attention to maintaining a good diet and healthy lifestyle, implementing a balanced diet, and not exercising vigorously. Includes all day-to-day activities. This helps the process of improving resistance to prevent the hepatitis B virus from reactivating and multiplying.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has Hepatobiliary Screening Packages performed by a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors in the field of hepatobiliary disease screening with the support of equipment. , modern medical facilities will help to accurately identify liver related problems.
The hepatobiliary screening package helps customers:
Assess the liver's ability to work through liver enzyme tests; Evaluation of bile function; vascular nutrition; Early screening for liver cancer; Performing tests such as Total blood cell analysis, blood clotting ability, screening for hepatitis B, C; Assessment of hepatobiliary status through ultrasound images and diseases that have the potential to affect liver disease/exacerbation of liver disease; In-depth analysis of parameters to evaluate hepatobiliary function through laboratory and subclinical tests; the risk of affecting the liver and early screening for hepatobiliary cancer.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Share
Patients Stories