Chronic hepatitis B infection in a hepatology clinic at a university hospital in Jeddah

Introduction: The outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in a cohort of CHB patients at the hepatology clinics of King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah was studied. Methodology: The results of a complete blood count, prothrombin time, liver function test and hepatitis B virus polymerase chain reaction (HBV-PCR) performed over the previous two to five years of follow-up were reviewed. Results of abdominal ultrasound performed within the last year and the data on the treatment type, duration and resistance were also obtained. Results: The majority of the 109 patients studied were Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg-negative; 87.2%). Male patients had higher serum ALT values compared to females at follow-up. HBeAg-positive patients had higher HBV-PCR levels at diagnosis compared to HBeAg-negative patients. Patients below 40 years of age had higher HBV-PCR compared to those above 40 years. Ultrasound showed liver cirrhosis in 11% of patients. Cirrhotic patients had higher GGT levels compared to non cirrhotic patients. Drug resistance developed in 25% of the 20 Lamivudine-treated patients. The mean duration of treatment was 2.5 +/- .47 years. Conclusion: CHB was predominantly HBeAg negative, with a benign long-term outcome in most patients. Therapy may need to be individualized for patients with high risk of progression.