<prompt> In Chronic Hepatitis B HBV infection presence of HBeAg Hepatitis B e antigen suggests which of the following?Ongoing viral replicationResolving infectionDevelopment of cirrhosisDevelopment of Hepatoma  <response>: Ans. a Ongoing viral replicationRef: R 9thpg 831-832HBeAgThe principal clinical usefulness of HBeAg is as an indicator of relative infectivity.HBeAg, HBV-DNA DNA polymerase appear in serum soon after HBsAg, and all signify active viral replication.Persistence of HBeAg is an important indicator of continued viral replication, infectivity, and probable progression to chronic hepatitis.The appearance of anti-HBe antibodies implies that an acute infection has peaked and is on the decline. 