Most patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection become carriers of inactive virus after hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion; however, a subgroup of patients have persistent abnormal transaminase levels and develop hepatocellular carcinoma after seroconversion. In an age-matched case-control study, 40 carriers of inactive virus (mean age+/-standard deviation [SD], 50.9 +/- 11.1 years), 40 patients with chronic […]