Correlation of HBV DNA PCR and HBeAg in hepatitis B carriers.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate hepatitis B HBV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results with HBeAg and serum alanine transferase (ALT) in carriers.


METHODS
Non-interventional descriptive study.


METHODS
The study was carried out at Virology Department, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from January 2001 to September 2002.


METHODS
Fifty hepatitis B carriers, with known HBsAg positive serostatus, raised serum ALT and detectable HBV DNA, were selected out of the patients reporting at AFIP for their blood test for HBV DNA. HBV DNA testing in these cases was carried out using PCR kit of Accugen-USA. After confirmation of their carrier status and raised serum ALT levels, the sera were tested for HBeAg and results of HBeAg testing were correlated with those of HBV DNA testing.


RESULTS
Out of the total 50 HBV DNA PCR positive hepatitis B carriers, 48 samples were positive for HBeAg. All the 50 HBV DNA positive cases had raised serum ALT levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In case of non-availability of facility for HBV PCR, detectable HBeAg should be taken as a surrogate marker for HBV DNA in hepatitis B carriers with raised serum ALT.
Hussain
Agha Babar
AB
Department of Virology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi. drbabarhussain@hotmail.com
Karamat
K A
KA
Anwar
Masood
M
Kazmi
Syed Yousaf
SY
Tariq
Waheed-uz-Zaman
WU
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase