All-positive HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb in a patient with hepatitis B: A case report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Jan 10;104(2):e41197. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041197.

Abstract

Rationale: Mass vaccination, low cost of immunoglobulins, and new drugs led to the emergence of new, unusual patterns of hepatitis B serum markers. This study reported a rare case of hepatitis B with all 5 positive serum markers, including HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb.

Patient concerns: A 30-year-old female patient was admitted due to abnormal liver function. The 5 serum markers were all positive (+), including HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb. After antiviral therapy, she was discharged with normal liver function and decreased hepatitis B virus-DNA levels, but all 5 serum markers were still positive. Regular follow-up was conducted every 3 months.

Diagnoses: Abnormal liver function.

Interventions: The patient received antiviral treatment and liver protection therapy using entecavir dispersive tablet 0.5 mg po qd and glycyrrhizate diamine enteric capsule 150 mg po tid.

Outcomes: The patient's liver function was normal, hepatitis B virus-DNA continued to decline, and HBeAb turned negative at 6 months. After 9 and 12 months of follow-up, the results of hepatitis B markers in the patient were stable in HBsAg positive (+), HBeAb positive (+), and HBcAb positive (+).

Lessons: The rare pattern of all 5 positive hepatitis B markers may occur in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Improvements can be achieved using first-line drugs and conventional treatment. Nevertheless, more attention should be paid to the patient's condition.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • DNA, Viral / blood
  • Female
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanine / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies* / blood
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* / blood
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Humans

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens
  • Biomarkers
  • entecavir
  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Guanine