CLINICAL AND PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF S EROCONVERSION FROM HBEAG TOANTI-HBE IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B - WARTENBERG-STUDY (1974-1994) .2.

146 patients (62 female, 84 male) with chronic hepatitis B were regula rly examined in 1 to 2 year intervals with an average follow-up period of 12 years ((x) over tilde). Each time patients were evaluated by ph ysical examination routine laboratory data, immunological and serologi cal testing, ultrasonography, and laparoscopy and/or percutaneous live r biopsy. No patient of the study underwent immunosuppressive or antiv iral treatment at any time. The average time data in years and months are given as the median value ((x) over tilde). Frequency and date of seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe after the first diagnosis of HBV -infection; in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) in 79% of cases after 8 years, in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CA H) in 72% of cases after 7 years, and in patient with liver cirrhosis in 61% of cases after 9 years. The overall seroconversion rate in all patients with hepatitis B amounted to 68% 8.5 years after the first di agnosis of HBV-infection. Clinical and prognostic significance: The se roconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe mostly led to substantial biochemi cal and histologic resolution of liver disease activity: In patients w ith CPH in 100% of cases after 15 months, in patients with CAH in 87% of cases after 17 months, and in patients with liver cirrhosis in 64% of cases after 2.5 years. 80% of these patients with seroconversion an d histologic recovery remained HBV-DNA (CR)-positive.