Understanding HbEAg and HbeAb

[82prasad]

Hi all,
How do we interpret conversion of HbeAg from positive to negative and developing HbeAb before treatment (case1) versus after treatment (case2). Are these indicators to stop NUC treatments. I belong to Case 1 and hence wanted to know from you all as the info on net is confusing.

[mcw0089]

Conversion of HbeAg from positive to negative means you have eliminated the E- Antigen from your body which is very good. That is great progress. Developing HbeAb means that you have developed the E- Antibody which is also very good. The E-Antibody is what helps you get rid of and protect against the E- Antigen.

Case 1 (Before Treatment) - means your body did it on it's own.
Case 2 (After Treatment) - means your body did it with the help of medication.
But both are essentially the same. No difference. Just case 2 is with the help of medication.

Those are not indications to stop treatment. There are at least two other things that you need to also be aware of. They are :

1. HbsAg - Surface Antigen.
2. HbDNA - DNA



Your body could still be positive for Surface Antigen and also for DNA. You need to do test to see if those are negative as well.

There is also HbsAb which is the S-Antibody that your body could develop as well.

So you have to be careful. You cant just stop treatment. There is also a  HbcAb and HbcAg. I dont know much about that but I think you have to check for that as well.

So it's not that simple to say you should stop taking medication. You can still be infected.

[ssdpositive]

How many it takes you to convert from HgeAg + to -, Were you taking any medicine ? if yes, what was it ?