Quantification of intrahepatic total hepatitis B virus DNA in chronic hepatitis B patients and its relationship with liver histology.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between total intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and liver histology in terms of the degree of histological activity index (HAI) that yields necroinflammation (HAI-NI) and fibrosis (HAI-F) of the liver.


METHODS
Prospectively, Tru-cut needle biopsy samples were obtained from the livers of 42 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Levels of serum and liver HBV DNA were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Demographic data of patients, together with hepatitis B serology, alanine aminotransferase levels, and HAI-NI and HAI-F scores, were recorded.


RESULTS
Twenty of the patients were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive, while 22 patients were positive for antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe). Serum and liver total HBV DNA levels were found to correlate directly with each other in the two groups (r = 0.669, p = 0.001; and r = 0.880, p<0.001; respectively) and the correlation was more marked in anti-HBe-positive patients. Although serum HBV DNA levels correlated positively with HAI-NI and HAI-F scores in HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients, total liver HBV DNA levels correlated with HAI-NI and HAI-F scores in anti-HBe-positive patients only.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative measurement of intrahepatic HBV DNA is a valuable marker of the histological status of the liver in anti-HBe-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B, and it may give an insight into the prognosis and the ideal time for the cessation of antiviral treatment.
Bayram
A
A
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Turkey. aysenbayram@hotmail.com
Erkilic
S
S
Ozkur
A
A
Bayram
M
M
Sari
I
I
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D001323:Autoantibodies; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens