Abstract

Aim: Clinical importance of HBeAg and HBeAb positivity was assessed in 309 patients with chronic HBV infection. Patients & methods: Clinical, biochemical and serological data were extracted from medical archives over a 10-year period (2004-2014). Results: HBeAg and HBeAb were positive in 46 (14.8) and 221 (71.5), respectively. Persistent elevation of AST and ALT enzymes were seen in 73 (21.2) and 98 (30.1) of the patients, respectively. HBeAb positivity rendered a significant protective effect against the elevated enzyme levels (odds ratio = 0.03; 95 CI: 0.003-000.3; p = 0.006 for AST, and odds ratio = 0.05; 95 CI: 0.007-000.4; p = 0.007 for ALT). Conclusion: Immune reaction against HbeAg in the course of chronic HBV infection rendered a protective factor against hepatic enzymes elevation.