Mindy & Betty's Medical Mysteries

HBeAG Seroconversion

  • Seroconversion is when the immune-marker pattern changes because the immune system has responded to the virus.
  • HBeAG seroconversion is when HBeAG disappears and anti–HBs appears, showing an immune response. HBeAG is associated with higher viral infectivity, and anti–HBe is associated with lower viral infectivity
  • However, to determine viral infectivity, you must also look at HBV DNA and ALT/LFT for the full picture
  • HBeAG seroconversion does not always mean the hepatitis B infection has been cured/ treated/ suppressed, the patient could have chronic hepatitis B with low infectivity = chronic HBeAG negative HBV infection