The presence of “major triplet” and “minor triplet” does not mean the onset of hepatitis B

  The general test for hepatitis B virus infection is based on blood indicators, namely hepatitis B surface antigen, surface antibody, e antigen, e antibody and core antibody, which are often referred to as the “two-and-a-half” tests. If a person’s blood is positive for surface antigen, e antigen and core antibodies, then the person can be judged to be “major triple positive”. If the blood is positive for surface antigen, e antibody and core antibody, then the person is “minor triple positive”. If the liver function and abdominal ultrasound are normal, it can only mean that the person is infected with or carrying the hepatitis B virus. In comparison, the “major triple-positive” virus is more active in replication and more infectious.  For those who have hepatitis B “major tri-positive” but normal liver function, they are hepatitis B virus carriers, and because their liver inflammation activity is weak, there is no need to deliberately pursue conversion to “minor tri-positive” during the stabilization period. For patients with chronic hepatitis B, if the patient is “major triple-positive” at the beginning of treatment, the conversion of “major triple-positive” to “minor triple-positive” (i.e., e antigen serological conversion) during the treatment process may mean Better outcomes and better prognosis. Medical studies have shown that 2-15% of adults with chronic hepatitis B “major triplet” convert to “minor triplet” each year. This may be related to the strength of the body’s interaction with the virus. In general, the higher the ALT, the higher the percentage of natural conversion. Interferon alpha and nucleoside (acid) analogs can facilitate this conversion process, but the patient must have an ALT equal to or greater than two times the upper limit of normal before treatment. ALT not only reflects the degree of hepatocyte damage, but also indirectly reflects the body’s immune capacity to clear the hepatitis B virus, so sometimes a moderately elevated ALT may indicate a better outcome. It is not advisable to treat hepatitis B carriers with normal ALT with antiviral therapy, but it is wise to actively do self-care and regularly observe and follow up HBVDNA and liver function.