title: [Analysis of the DNA of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the serum and mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood in subjects with chronic infection by the HBV].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viral replication is one of the determining factors of the natural history of infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The clinical significance of the viremia and the DNA-HBV findings in mononuclear cells was therefore analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The epidemiologic history, liver function tests and the Knodell index were analyzed in 117 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 33 healthy HBV carriers. The DNA-HBV was studied in serum and mononuclear cells by dot-blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DNA-HBV was detected by dot-blot in 62/117 subjects with and in CHB 3/33 healthy carriers. Viremis was determined by PCR in 107/117 patients with CHB and in 22/23 healthy carriers. Both aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the Knodell index were greater in the patients with positive DNA-HBV dot-blot. No significant differences were observed in the liver function tests and Knodell index with regard to the viremia detectable exclusively by PCR. In the mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, DNA-HBV was observed in 62% by dot-blot and in 95% by PCR. The presence of DNA-HBV by dot-blot in these cells was associated to greater disease activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The activity of chronic hepatitis B was correlated with the presence of high viremic levels with no direct relation being observed between low grade viremia and disease aggressivity. The finding of DNA-HBV by dot-blot in mononuclear cells was associated with a greater activity of chronic hepatitis B, with these results being in agreement with the serologic data reported.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Facultad de Medicina, Santander.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López-Arias
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martín-Ramos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Antolín
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dueñas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pons Romero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
vernacular_title: Análisis del ADN del virus de la hepatitis B (VHB) en suero y células mononucleares de sangre periférica en sujetos con infección crónica por el VHB.