What is Anti-HBe? What does Anti-HBe mean in a hepatitis B test?

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Anti HBe test is one of the items to test, diagnose and monitor hepatitis B treatment, besides HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBs,… However, many patients still do not understand the test well. What is Anti HBe as well as what the resulting indicators mean.

1. What is the Anti-HBe test?

Anti HBe, also known by the name HBeAb, is an antibody against the HBeAg antigen. Anti-HBe plays an important role in preventing the self-replicating or mutating process of active hepatitis B viruses in the human body. In addition to Anti-HBe, Anti-HBs antibodies are similarly resistant to HBV replication, but the two do not uniformly occur together.
Anti HBe test helps to evaluate the replication of hepatitis B virus, whether it has decreased or stopped. This is one of the hepatitis B virus testing items, which is performed initially to detect the disease status, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of treatment over time, thereby giving the next appropriate direction.
However, the Anti HBe test cannot tell if a person is immune to the hepatitis B virus. To determine this problem, it depends on the influence of HBeAg and hepatitis B quantification.
In general, the HBeAb test helps to diagnose the level of viral growth, so it is usually ordered in people with confirmed positive for hepatitis B. To monitor disease status, liver examination and viral activity testing should be performed 6-12 months until a positive HBeAb result is available. Anti-HBe test is also often done concurrently with HBeAg to fully assess the patient’s condition.

2. Significance of positive Anti HBe test (+)

2.1. Positive treatment effect Usually, Anti Hbe (+) and HBeAg (-) is a good signal for hepatitis B patients. The presence of Anti HBe indicates that the patient’s immune system has been suppressed. the virus replicates with treatment, the virus does not multiply or is in the form of a mutation. From there, doctors will evaluate the current treatment regimen and the hepatitis B status is progressing positively.
2.2. Chronic hepatitis B On the other hand, there are also cases where the HBeAg (-) and Anti HBe (+) index indicate that the body has entered the chronic hepatitis B stage. In other words, in this case the virus is still multiplying, but the body cannot suppress it with Anti HBe.
People with chronic hepatitis B appear anti-HBe sera, indicating that the disease has been active for a long time in the body, there is a risk of moving to another stage, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and more dangerously, liver cancer. primary. At this time, the results of the Anti HBe test will help diagnose the risk of hepatitis turning into complications early.
2.3. Acute hepatitis B Besides, the Anti-Hbe index is also used to determine the natural course of acute hepatitis B. A positive Anti HBe test result (+) indicates that the patient’s body is in one of the following cases:
End stage of acute hepatitis B: Anti HBe (+), HBsAg (+) and Anti HBc IgM (+) End stage of acute hepatitis B: Anti HBe (+), HBsAg(-) and Anti Hbc IgM (+) Chronic hepatitis B: Anti HBe(+), HBsAg(+), Anti HBc IgM (-) and total Anti HBc (+) People who have been infected and are currently immune to hepatitis B: Anti Hbe (+), HBsAg (-) and total Anti HBc (-)

2.4. Seroconversion In addition, during hepatitis B virus treatment, a positive Anti HBe test result indicates that this is one of the possible seroconversion conditions.
Seroconversion occurs when Anti HBe changes from negative to positive and HBeAg changes from positive to negative, indicating that the virus in the blood has decreased or stopped multiplying. This process may occur spontaneously, or it may also be the result of antiretroviral therapy for hepatitis B.
Anti-HBe index (+) is only one of the necessary seroconversion conditions. to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Treatment success or not depends on the results of other indicators, including:
HBsAg (+) to Anti HBs (+) Viral concentration drops below detection threshold: HBV-DNA taqman < 40 copies/ml Liver enzyme index recovered to normal level.

3. Meaning of negative Anti HBe index (-)

A negative Anti-HBe test result shows that the current treatment for hepatitis B is not satisfactory, the HBV virus is still multiplying normally and the body cannot be inhibited by Anti-HBe due to drug resistance.
In other words, the negative index signifies that the virus is more active. At this time, patients need to change to other treatment methods, in order to control and control the hepatitis B virus more effectively.

4. Notes on hepatitis B infection

At present, hepatitis B can be treated with western medicine, stem cells or fortification of the immune system… Newly diagnosed people should start treatment as soon as possible. The application of treatment measures appropriate to the individual’s condition will help manage the course of the disease effectively. Patients should avoid self-medication of hepatitis B control drugs because of the risk of drug resistance or drug resistance of the virus.
During treatment, the patient should also:
Eat a balanced and scientific diet, do not need to be too abstinent. Regular exercise – sports to keep good health Stay away from alcohol and stimulants Do not use Using a lot of fat in food processing Limiting the consumption of caffeine and carbonated drinks Periodic and regular health check-ups to control the progression of hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a common and dangerous disease, potentially destroys the liver very strongly, so far there is no radical treatment. Therefore, each person needs to have effective prevention and control measures to limit serious complications. In particular, hepatitis B vaccination is the first prevention measure, suitable for all subjects (except those who already have antibodies), high protection efficiency, and can even last a lifetime. .
In short, the Anti HBe test will help doctors assess how effective the treatment is. It can be said that the Anti HBe index is extremely necessary and has great influence in the treatment of hepatitis B virus.
Anti HBe test is included in the Hepatobiliary Screening packages of the International General Hospital. Vinmec, helps detect Hepatitis Virus at an early stage even when there are no symptoms.

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