RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTRAHEPATIC EXPRESSION OF HEPATITIS-B VIRAL-ANTIGENS AND HISTOLOGY IN CHINESE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION

HePatic cellular and subcellular expression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens-HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBeAg-in 143 Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection were studied by immunohistochemical techniques. Nuclear expression of HBcAg and nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of HBeAg s howed a secular trend decreasing from the carrier state and chronic pe rsistent hepatitis (CPH), through chronic active hepatitis (CAH), to c irrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma. In contrast, cytopl asmic HBcAg expression was significantly greater in patients with CPH and CAH (P < .0108). In addition, cytoplasmic HBcAg correlated signifi cantly with lobular activity, portal inflammation, and hepatitic activ ity (p less-than-or-equal-to .007). Expression of cytoplasmic HBcAg al so exceeded cytoplasmic HBeAg and nuclear HBcAg in liver specimens sho wing significant damage (P < .038). HBsAg, however, showed no secular trend and was not related to liver histology. The authors' findings su pport the theory that HBcAg is also the viral target antigen for immun e-mediated liver damage in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection .