Summary and Explanation

HBeAg is the extracellular form of HBcAg, which is why the presence of both are markers of viral replication, and antibodies for these antigens are markers of a decline in replication. HBeAb is the antibody to HBeAg. HBeAb appears either at the time e antigen disappears or 1-2 weeks later. Since the disappearance of e antigens occurs shortly before the disappearance of the surface antigen (HbsAg), detection of HBeAb usually means that the acute stage of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is over or nearly over and that infectivity for others is much lower. In a few cases, there are short periods of e-antigen and e-antibody coexistence. The presence of HBeAb is generally taken to be a good sign and indicates a favourable prognosis.