The natural history of chronic hepatitis B comprises clinical phases defined by dynamic fluctuations over time in serum levels of HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity (4) with or without hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), a viral marker associated with higher viral titer, greater risk for liver cancer, and immune tolerizing effect (5–9). The gene discussed is GPT; the disease is chronic hepatitis B virus infection.