Abstract: Objective To study on the predictive index for the treatment necessity of HBeAg negative HBV DNA positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) viral infection.Methods 108 patients were divided into treatment group and follow-up group according to their liver pathology. Patients in the treatment group had significant hepatic inflammation (> grade 2) or fibrosis (>grade 2) under pathological examination, and patients in the follow-up group had less severe histological changes. Age, gender, family history of HBV infection, quantitative level of HBsAg, and HBV DNA load were included in single factor analysis for the treatment necessity. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was carried out on the statistically significant variables. The cut-off values of the independent risk factors were defined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC).Results Among the 108 cases of HBeAg negative HBV DNA positive patients with chronic HBV infection, 29 (26.7%) reached the criteria of treatment. Age and family history of HBV infection are independent risk factors for the treatment necessity. The cutoff value of risk age was 35.5 years old.Conclusion HBeAg negative HBV DNA positive patients with chronic HBV infection may also require treatment, with age older than 35.5 years and family history of HBV infection as independent predictors for the necessity.

Key words: HBeAg negative, Hepatitis B, HBV DNA, Chronic HBV infection, Prediction