title: The value of quantitative detection of HBV-DNA amplified by PCR in the study of hepatitis B infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of quantifying HBV-DNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction in chronic hepatitis B infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from 32 asymptomatic HBV carriers and 99 chronic hepatitis B patients (62 positive for anti-HBe and 37 positive for HBeAg). In addition, serial serum samples were analyzed from 15 HBeAg positive patients undergoing antiviral therapy and 17 anti-HBe positive patients with precore mutation. HBV-DNA quantification was carried out using an enzyme immunoassay with an HBV-DNA plasma standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The digoxigenin-incorporated polymerase chain reaction method detected HBV-DNA in 34.3% of the asymptomatic HBV carriers with a median HBV-DNA concentration of about 0.18 x 10(5) mol/ml (range 0.08-0.4), in 87% of the anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis cases with a range of 0.2 to > 2 x 10(5) mol/ml and in 100% of the HBeAg positive patients, with a value in all cases over 2 x 10(5) mol/ml. We observed that after treatment, HBV-DNA tested negative in only two of the eight HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis patients who seroconverted to anti-HBe, and was positive in the seven remaining, with a median HBV-DNA value of about 0.2 x 10(5) mol/ml (0.09-0.4). In the precore mutants HBV-DNA values ranged from 0.2 to > 2 x 10(5) mol/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polymerase chain reaction HBV-DNA quantification is a sensitive method for managing chronic hepatitis B patients, especially those with low viremia, and may be a valuable tool for evaluating the efficacy of antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Hospital Universitario Valle Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Frias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guardia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pascual
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase