Intrahepatic HBV DNA as a predictor of antivirus treatment efficacy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.


METHODS
Seventy-one patients received treatment with lamivudine, interferon alpha (IFN-alpha 2b) or sequential therapy with lamivudine-IFN-alpha 2b for 48 wk. All subjects were followed up for 24 wk. Serum and intrahepatic HBV DNA were measured quantitatively by PCR. HBV genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.


RESULTS
At the end of treatment, the intrahepatic HBV DNA level in 71 patients decreased from a mean of (6.1 +/- 1.0) log10 to (4.9 +/- 1.4) log10. Further, a larger decrease was seen in the intrahepatic HBV DNA level in patients with HBeAg seroconversion. Intrahepatic HBV DNA level (before and after treatment) was not significantly affected by the patients' HBV genotype, or by the probability of virological flare after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrahepatic HBV DNA can be effectively lowered by antiviral agents and is a significant marker for monitoring antivirus treatment. Low intrahepatic HBV DNA level may achieve better efficacy of antivirus treatment.
Lu
Hai-Ying
HY
Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Zhuang
Li-Wei
LW
Yu
Yan-Yan
YY
Ivan
Hadad
H
Si
Chong-Wen
CW
Zeng
Zheng
Z
Li
Jun
J
Hou
Dong-Ming
DM
Chen
Xin-Yue
XY
Han
Zhong-Hou
ZH
Chen
Yong
Y
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine