Objective: To investigate the expression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen in brain tissue from liver cirrhosis patients with hepatitis B and explore its significance.
Methods: HBsAg and HBcAg were detected in the brain tissue from 70 liver cirrhosis dead patients with hepatitis B by S-P immunohistochemical assay, and the relationship between the expression of HBV antigen in brain tissue testing and clinic and pathology was analyzed.
Results: 30 patients (42.89%) were positive for HBV antigen. Among them, 24 patients (34.29%) were positive for HBsAg and 18 patients (25.71%) were positive for HBcAg. HBV antigen was mainly found in cytoplasm and distributed in neurons, neurogliocytes and vascular endothelial cells. The positive cells were distributed separately, scatteredly or focally. The expression of HBV antigen was not associated with the serum level of HBV replication but associated with the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and the severity of brain tissue pathologic lesions of HE.
Conclusions: The results indicate that HBV infection develop in brain tissue from liver cirrhosis patients with hepatitis B and HBV may replicate in it. HBV infection in brain tissue may p lay an important role in occurrence and development of HE from liver cirrhosis patients with hepatitis B.