[Serum ALT and HBV DNA levels in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B].
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.
Kim
Kyung Hwan
KH
Department of Internal Medicine, Samsun Hospital, Pusan National University College of Medicine1, Busan, Korea.
Na
Il Hwan
IH
Cha
Jae Moon
JM
Cho
Yong Ki
YK
Park
Se Young
SY
Kim
Hyoung Pil
HP
Song
Chul Soo
CS
Heo
Jeong
J
Cho
Mong
M
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
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase