Aim 1: The clinical and virological status of chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection is defined by distinct patterns of immune effector and regulatory responses: The investigators propose that one or more immune regulatory are induced during chronic hepatitis B that define the extent of immune tolerance vs. activation with associated disease activity and viremia. Towards this end, the immune effector and regulatory responses relative to serum HBV DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and liver histology will be examined in a cross-sectional manner in patients with chronic HBV and control groups.
Aim 2: Clinical hepatitis flares during chronic hepatitis B reflect altered balance between immune regulatory and effector responses.
