Korean J Hepatol.
2011 Dec;17(4):307-312. 10.3350/kjhep.2011.17.4.307.
Clinical features of acute viral hepatitis B in Korea: a multi-center study
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. syko406@naver.com
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
- 5Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 6Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
- 7Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
- 8Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea.
- 9Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gacheon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
- KMID: 1792609
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/kjhep.2011.17.4.307
Abstract
- BACKGROUND/AIMS
The incidence of Hepatitis B has significantly declined since the introduction of an HBV vaccination program. The aim of this study was to investigate recent clinical features of acute viral hepatitis B (AVH-B) in Korea.
METHODS
A total of 2241 patients with acute viral hepatitis were enrolled and their data were collected from nine medical-centers between January 2006 and December 2009.
RESULTS
One hundred nineteen (5.3%) of the 2241 were diagnosed as AVH-B. Among 78 patients with AVH-B whose data were analyzed, 50 were male, and the mean age was 38.6 years. In an initial test, mean AST, ALT and total-bilirubin levels were 1296.2 IU/L, 2109.6 IU/L and 9.3 mg/dl, respectively. Positivity frequencies for HBeAg and anti-HBe were 55.1% and 67.9%, respectively, and the mean HBV DNA level was 5.2 log10 copies/ml. The mean length of hospitalization was 11.6 days. During follow-up, AST, ALT and total bilirubin levels were normalized or near-normalized in all patients without serious complications. Sixty-three of 66 (95.4%) patients showed HBsAg loss and 37 (56.1%) patients showed HBsAg seroconversion. Only 3 patients (4.5%) showed persistent hepatitis B viremia. There was no case of death or liver transplantation. Nine patients (11.3%) had received anti-viral agents and their clinical outcomes were not significantly different from those of patients treated without antiviral agents.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of AVH-B among acute hepatitis patients is relatively low in Korea. AVH-B infection can be cured without complications in almost all patients, regardless of antiviral treatment.
Keyword
MeSH Terms
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Acute Disease
Adult
Alanine Transaminase/blood
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood
Bilirubin/blood
DNA, Viral/analysis
Female
Hepatitis B/*diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology
Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood/immunology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
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