Lower baseline ALT cut-off values and HBV DNA levels better differentiate HBeAg(-) chronic hepatitis B patients from inactive chronic carriers

Table 2 Validity of ALT, AST and serum HBV DNA levels for the differentiation of patients with HBeAg (-) chronic hepatitis B from inactive chronic HBsAg carriers

Laboratory test	SP %	SS %	PPV %	NPV %	Diagnostic accuracy %	Inactive carriers n = 19	HBeAg(-) hepatitis B n = 40
ALT (> vs ≤ 2 ULN)	100	33	100	41	54	0/19	27/13
ALT (> vs ≤ 1.3 ULN)	47	90	78	69	78	10/9	36/4
AST > ULN	84	45	86	42	58	3/16	22/18
HBV DNA (> vs < 50 000 copies/mL)	57	73	97	62	80	1/18	29/11
HBV DNA 50 000 + ALT > (1.3 ULN)	95	80	96	69	85	1/18	32/8

Every 19 IU/mL of HBV DNA equals 100 copies/mL. Upper normal limit (ULN) for ALT: 30 IU/L for men and 19 IU/L for women.