title: Correlation between HBsAg quantitative assay results and HBV DNA levels in chronic HBV.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viral load has been used to diagnose and monitor patients who are being treated for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The Diagnosis methods are molecular-based and expensive. Quantitation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by automated chemiluminescent micro-particle immunoassay has been proposed to be a surrogate marker. Quantitating HBV DNA levels molecularly is expensive; thus, a cheaper laboratory test as a surrogate diagnostic marker might simplify our management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We determined whether quantitative HBsAg levels correlate with HBV DNA levels in CHB.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, all CHB patients who were referred by a gastroenterologist to undergo quantitative HBV DNA assay in a qualified laboratory in Mashhad, Iran in 2009 were enrolled, and blood samples was obtained. Patients who were positive for antibodies to HCV and HDV were excluded. HBV DNA was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and serum HBsAg was quantified byelectrochemiluminescence assay (Roche Diagnostic).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 97 patients, 70 were male (72%) and 27 were female (28%); the mean age was 39 ± 11 years. Eighty-seven percent wasHBeAg-negative. By Mann-Whitney test,HBSAg titer differed significantly between HBeAg-positive and -negative patients (P = 0.001), as did HBV DNA levels (P = 0.009). By Spearman test, there was no significant correlation between HBsAg and HBV DNA levels (P= 0.606 and r = 0.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBeAg-negative patients have higher levels of HBsAg and lower levels of HBV DNA. By electrochemiluminescence assay,HBsAg has no significant correlation with HBV DNA levels in CHB with predominant genotype D and HBeAg negativity in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine , Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganji
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaeilzadeh
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghafarzadegan
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helalat
authors.forename: Houshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafatpanah
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mokhtarifar
references.citation: J Virol Methods. 2004 Feb;115(2):217-22
references.pmid: 14667538
references.citation: Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2006 Aug;31(4):548-51
references.pmid: 16951515
references.citation: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Dec;5(12):1462-8
references.pmid: 18054753
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101 Suppl 1:S1-6
references.pmid: 16448446
references.citation: Hepatology. 2010 Oct;52(4):1232-41
references.pmid: 20648555
references.citation: Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004 Nov;16(11):1213-8
references.pmid: 15489584
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2006;44(1 Suppl):S71-6
references.pmid: 16343681
references.citation: Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2010 Sep;34 Suppl 2:S112-8
references.pmid: 21095514
references.citation: Antivir Ther. 2010;15(8):1133-9
references.pmid: 21149920
references.citation: Arch Virol. 2009;154(9):1451-5
references.pmid: 19672557
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1997 Dec 11;337(24):1733-45
references.pmid: 9392700
references.citation: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Sep;25(9):1498-506
references.pmid: 20796146
references.citation: Dig Dis Sci. 2008 Nov;53(11):2995-8
references.pmid: 18409002
references.citation: Semin Liver Dis. 2006 May;26(2):97-103
references.pmid: 16673288
references.citation: Hepatology. 2010 Jun;51(6):1933-44
references.pmid: 20512987
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 2009 Dec;137(6):2002-9
references.pmid: 19737568
references.citation: Hepatology. 2009 Apr;49(4):1141-50
references.pmid: 19338056
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 2010 Aug;139(2):483-90
references.pmid: 20451520