Fig. 6

The level of HBeAg associated with inflammation and fibrosis degrees in patients infected with HBV. The association between the level of HBeAg and the content of HBV DNA (A), ALT (B), and AST (C) was analyzed in AHB patients. Hepatic inflammation grades were compared in HBeAg⁻ and HBeAg⁺ CHB patients (D). Liver sections were stained with CD68 (E), and CD68-positive areas were compared between CHB patients with significant inflammation grades (G ≥ 2) and their counterparts (G ≤ 1) (F). The association between the level of HBeAg and CD68-positive areas was analyzed (G). Hepatic fibrosis stages and the percentage of patients with CHB-related complications were compared in HBeAg⁻ and HBeAg⁺ patients (H, I). Liver sections were stained with HE and α-SMA (K), and the level of HBeAg and the α-SMA-positive areas was analyzed in 20 HBeAg⁺ patients (J). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001