title: Intrahepatic HBV DNA as a predictor of antivirus treatment efficacy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hadad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ivan
authors.forename: Chong-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Xin-Yue
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhong-Hou
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine