Previous studies indicate that HBeAg-negative individuals, despite having lower HBV-DNA, can experience a variable disease course characterised by fluctuating ALT and HBV-DNA levels, higher intrahepatic necroinflammatory lesions and accelerated progression to cirrhosis (annual rate 8–20%) and/or HCC, indicating a more robust immune response in HBeAg-negative infection.23 27 51 53 Although our study numbers are very low, we identified two HBeAg-negative and one HBeAg-positive patients with clinical signs of HCC. The gene discussed is GPT; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.