title: The role of HBV DNA and liver histopathology in HBsAg carriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we evaluated the association among serum transaminase values, seropositivity of HBV DNA and liver histopathology of patients with positive HBsAg and HBe antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients were placed in two groups according to their serum transaminase values. Patients with normal transaminase values were evaluated in the first group. The patients with above normal transaminase values were subjected in the second group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first group of patients with normal transaminase values, biopsy-proven moderate or severe chronic hepatitis was not observed. HBV DNA seropositivity was 53.3% in this group. Forty-five percent of the patients with above normal transaminase values had moderate chronic hepatitis and seropositivity for HBV DNA in this group was 55%. Our results supported the association between transaminase values and liver pathology, but no statistically significant association was shown between seropositivity of HBV DNA and liver pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is much to be studied to understand the function of HBV DNA in the follow up of HBsAg carriers, and liver biopsy has to be used routinely in the follow up of asymptomatic carriers when they happen to have high transaminase values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Social Security Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agalar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usubütün
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agalar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Türkyïlmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000637:Transaminases