My recent hep b DNA results

[glknow]

I have been diagnosed with hep b about 6 months ago and my Hep b viral DNA was just about 1680 IU/ML and my recent test results has increased to 2940 IU/ML just within 6 months.attached is the most recent results.my gastroenterologist has other tests but he says am still in an inactive state but I am having so many symptoms such as fatigue,joint pain ,abdominal pain ,flea like symptoms and atimes serious nausea’s and it definitely affecting my daily life but he is still not willing to start any treatment for me n he says am in an inactive state .i did so many other tests for other diseases but all turn negative.

Plse I need advise regarding the way forward.
It’s a pleasure to here I just came across the site online

[Ossaidavid]

Hello there, sorry about what you’re experiencing, do you have an acute or chronic infection? Cus from what you explained it looked like you are still in the acute stage. Acute infections typically last less than 6 months. In fact let me clarify, for those that are symptomatic, the 6 months timeframe starts from when you started experiencing the symptoms, NOT from when you were diagnosed or when you get infected. For those that are asymptomatic it’s a bit difficult to calculate.

My own case was similar to yours and I tested negative for HBsAg last month.

[glknow]

Thank you for your swift response…I think mine is chronic because I have been experiencing symptoms for about one year now

[Ossaidavid]

wow, you’ve been experiencing Symptoms for about a year, that’s uncommon, there is a test that differentiates an acute infection from a chronic one though, I suggest you do it.

HBcIgM (Hepatitis B Core Antibody IgM):

Acute Hepatitis B: The presence of HBcIgM is a marker for acute infection.

Chronic Hepatitis B: HBcIgM is typically absent, and instead, HBcIgG (Hepatitis B Core Antibody IgG) is present.

Don’t just conclude that your infection is chronic.

Also what did your gastrointrologist see that made he/she to conclude that you’re in an inactive state?

A active or inactive infection is diagnosed through a blood test

INACTIVE STATE:
HBsAg positive,
HBsAb negative,
HBeAg negative,
HBeAb positive

HBeAg negative means that the virus is not replicating and that you are less infectious

HBeAb positive means that you have an antibody against active viral replication that is against HBeAg

Untill this test is done your doctor can’t tell you that you’re in an inactive stage and also until you do the HBcIgM test you can’t conclude that you’re chronic as the symptoms you’re describing is peculiar to an acute infection.

There are also other possibilities such as fatty liver disease, pancreatitis or infection with other form of hepatitis, these other possibilities should be ruled out through a test. It’s possible that these other conditions are responsible for the symptoms you’ve been having and not hepatitis B.

[glknow]

Thank so much for for that comprehensive information well appreciated
Below are some of the results for kind review

[Ossaidavid]

It means you’re chronic, I wonder why your gastrointrologist haven’t placed you on any medication. I suggest you get a second opinion by seeing another gastrointrologist.

How is your mental health? Getting to know that you’re hepatitis B positive can be challenging, I hope you’re not facing much emotional stress, if you are please hang in there, I know there will be a cure in our lifetime.

[Dam]

Did you do test for Hbeag and hbeab I think that can still let you know what’s going on

[glknow]

Thank you for the advice.i wil definitely check on a second gastroenterologist.
I am definitely able to handle the stress what bothers me more is the symptoms am going through.I am thankful to Gid that atleast it’s discovered at an early stage when o don’t have high numbers.

[glknow]

I have not taken those tests yet

[kwaku_forson]

Thank you so much, that was detailed and we appreciate.

[ThomasTu]

Hi @glknow,

Thanks for sharing your experiences and I’m sorry about the stress you have been under. Have you been able to get a liver function tests and a fibroscan? These are tests that can provide some indication of liver injury and damage and determine if you fall under the current guidelines for treatment and also see if the symptoms you are experiencing are likely due to the Hepatitis B or maybe has some other cause.

Thomas

[1994]

Good morning. I am a bit confused. I was recently diagnosed with HBV. My DNA viral load is 999,886 copy/ml. The ALT and AST are also high. some of the findings are

HBsAg - Reactive
HBsAb- non reactive
HBeAg- Reactive
HBeAb- non reactive
HBcAb- reactive.

Symptoms I experience include abdominal pain, change in stool color, jaundice etc.

Again, there’s no history of hepatitis B in respect to my parents, I have never had sex in my life talk more of having unprotected sex, no blood contact or any fluid from infected person. I am 30years old.

Taking all this into consideration, am I having a acute or chronic hepatitis B. I am depressed and unhappy these days.

[Bansah1]

Hi @1994,
Welcome to the community and I do empathize with you. First, hepatitis B virus can be in your body for many years without any symptoms. I am not sure where you are, but this is very common in areas where HBV is prevalent. It is possible you have been infected all along but because you did not have any symptoms there was no issue. I was in my late 30’s when I was diagnosed and my elder brother was in his early 40’s when he had sudden jaundice and that is how he found out. HBeAg reactive indicates a chronic infection. You can get it from childhood being around other kids infected (biting each other), blood transfusion etc. It might be impossible to know exactly how you contracted this infection.

Your results are very high, have you seen a doctor and how long have you had these symptoms? If not please do so as soon as you can, before you do more serious damage to your liver. Please, don’t over stress yourself. I understand this is definitely not the news you want. What you do about it is what matters now. Keep your head up and remember you are not alone. Take it one day at a time. Bansah1.

[1994]

These symptoms started 5th June 2024. The Dr asked me to do a DNA test before concluding whether I will be placed on antiviral agent

Hopefully, I will meet him tomorrow. I am unwell presently, I just hope there will be improvement as soon as I start antiviral therapy.

[Bansah1]

Oh okay. I am glad you are seeing the doctor tomorrow. Keep us updated. Thanks

[ThomasTu]

Hi @1994,

Thanks for sharing your story. Hope the appointment went OK. Please keep us updated on your situation.

Thomas

[Ossaidavid]

Hello, I’m sorry for what you’re passing through, and I’m also sorry for the late reply.

From what you explained, I strongly believe that you have an acute infection, I too had an acute infection but by the grace of God I was able to achieve a cure, my symptoms started around on the 21st of January and ended on the 28th of February, while on the 18th of May this year I did a test and HBsAg was Negative, the entire process lasted for 18 weeks.

The probability of clearing an acute infection is 90-95%, so you see you have a high chance of clearing this virus.

I however suggest you do a test to confirm if you have an acute or chronic infection (although I believe it’s acute) but do the test to confirm.

In the meantime do not stress yourself, my blood pressure went really high when I had the infection as I was very worried and even considered suicide, how silly of me.

Please I beg you do not react like me, try to calm down and know that this will pass, from what you explained your infection is likely acute, the values on my liver function test were very high as well.

Also to share more light on what @Bansah1 said, know that HBeAg will be positive at the begining of an acute infection when you are experiencing Symptoms but will become negative around or after the symptoms resolve, so having HBeAg positive does not necessarily indicate that you have a chronic infection as this is expected to turn negative when you stop experiencing Symptoms.

I am ready to help out any way I can please feel free to message me anytime as I understand how difficult this period is, and please try to calm down and don’t stress about it, this issue will pass.

[chul_chan]

Hi 1994
I hope you are doing well. In my personal opinion, Based on the history symptom and laboratory results(HBV profiles and HBV DNA), At present, We cannot clearcut distinguish between acute and chronic hepatitis. If you have a history of exposure to blood or body fluid within 6wks to 6mo before, You may have lately, acute hepatitis B. On the other hand, You may be chronic hepatitis B acquired during perinatal or early childhood and you are immune tolerance (IT) phase until 2nd and 3rd decades That your immune system will react with HBV And turn to immune active phase . To differentiate acute HB and chronic HB , apart from 6 months period or follow up HBsAg, another option is the test for IgM antiHBc , which can distinguish between acute and chronic hepatitis B to certain extent because IgM anti HBc can be detected in reactivation of chronic hepatitis, but the titer is lower than acute hepatitis . When considering the level of HBV DNA , you may be acute or chronic hepatitis B immune active phase , so the ALT level may need to be considered . In symptomatic acute hepatitis, the level of ALT is very high, such as 20 to 30 times or more of upper normal limit, but in chronic hepatitis ,ALT level mostly less than 20 times of upper normal limit in immune actve phase . I don’t know your ALT level which is essentially to be considered.
In summary, I think that you are more likely to be chronic HB (immune active) than acute HB. You should consult with your doctor about the plan of management because the treatment for the two condition is different . I hope this may help you to understand about your conditions. Get well soon.

[1994]

Thank you all for your kind responses.
I was able to meet the Dr yesterday. He placed me on tenofovir and a liver protecting supplement for 3 months.

My question is that, assuming I was also infected with the virus as a child, am I also in the category of the 95% stated in the literature that have the potential of getting rid of the virus?

[Bansah1]

Hi @1994,
I am glad to hear that you did see your doctor and you have started treatment. Please make sure you adhere to your treatment order very well. It can seem a lot, but stay on top of it.

Unfortunately, if you were exposed as a child you do not fall within this category. The 90-95% is for those infected as adults. Only about 5-10% of people infected in childhood are able to clear it. I hope this is helpful. Bansah1