title: [Serum ALT and HBV DNA levels in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has a poor long-term prognosis. Since no precise clinically relevant HBV thresholds are known in HBeAg-negative CHB, the decision to treat is difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of serum HBV DNA and transaminase and to investigate the correlation of these values in patients with HBeAg-negative CHB.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study analyzed the sera from 82 patients with HBeAg-negative CHB, 61 men and 21 women. The mean age was 45 years. The patients were divided into two groups according to serum ALT levels: the patients with lower ALT level (n=52, UNL < ALT < 2 X UNL) and higher level (n=30, ALT >/= 2 X UNL). The level of serum HBV DNA was determined by the Cobas Amplicor HBV Monitor(TM) (Roche).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median serum HBV DNA level was 2.7 X 10(5) copies/mL in patients with HBeAg-negative CHB. The median serum HBV DNA level of patients with a higher ALT level (1.0 X 10(6) copies/mL) was significantly higher than that of patients with a lower ALT level (5.6 X 10(4) copies/mL)(p<0.001). The serum ALT level was correlated with serum HBV DNA levels in patients with HBeAg-negative CHB (r=0.416, p<0.001). The serum level of HBV DNA in patients with cirrhosis (median 2.0 X 10(5) copies/mL) did not differ from patients without cirrhosis (median 4.7 X 10(5) copies/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of serum HBV DNA was higher in patients with higher serum ALT level than it was in patients with lower serum ALT, and it was closely correlated with serum ALT levels in HBeAg-negative CHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Samsun Hospital, Pusan National University College of Medicine1, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Il Hwan
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Jae Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Yong Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Se Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyoung Pil
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Mong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase