INACTIVE CARRIERS OF HEP B VIRUS & HEPB E ANTIGEN-NEG CHRONIC HEPB IN NAMER

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。全球约有4亿人患有慢性乙肝。乙肝在亚洲、东欧和非洲更为常见，这些地区高达10%的人口是慢性感染者。乙肝是由一种感染肝脏的病毒引起的。在婴儿或儿童时期感染的人中，免疫系统不能很容易地将感染从体内清除。感染这种病毒超过6个月的人被称为慢性携带者。大多数慢性携带者感觉良好，没有肝病症状。然而，这些人的肝脏可能有炎症。随着时间的推移，一些携带者会患上肝硬变(肝脏疤痕形成)、肝功能衰竭或肝癌。本研究将观察慢性乙肝病毒携带者的自然感染过程。在大多数就诊时将进行血液测试，以确定肝功能和病毒活性。这项研究不涉及药物治疗或侵入性测试。它将帮助医生和受试者更多地了解乙肝感染的自然过程，以及病毒如何导致肝脏损害。通过这项研究，受试者将了解更多关于乙肝的知识，肝脏的作用，如何防止病毒传播给他人，以及如何治疗乙肝。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Approximately 400 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B is more common in Asia, East Europe and Africa, where up to 10% of the population are chronically infected. Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that infects the liver. In people who were infected as babies or children, the immune system cannot easily clear the infection from the body. People who have been infected with this virus for more than 6 months are called chronic carriers. Most chronic carriers feel well and have no symptoms of liver disease. However, these people may have inflammation in their liver. Over time, some carriers will develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure or liver cancer. This study will observe the natural course of infection in chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus. Blood tests will be taken at most visits to determine liver function and virus activity. This study does not involve treatment with medications or invasive testing. It will help physicians and subjects learn more about the natural course of hepatitis B infection, and how the virus causes liver damage. Through this study, subjects will learn more about hepatitis B, what the liver does, how to prevent spread of the virus to others, and how hepatitis B can be treated.