Based on three clinical parameters (serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels, serum HBV DNA levels, and hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen [HBeAg] levels), the disease is divided into four phases3, 5 (Figure 1): (1) HBeAg‐positive chronic infection (‘immune tolerant’); (2) HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis; (3) HBeAg‐negative chronic infection (‘inactive carrier’); (4) HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis. This evidence concerns the gene GPT and chronic hepatitis.