title: Evaluation of hepatitis B viraemia levels in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and low-level viraemia in terms of determining HBV DNA cut-off values and levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and other possible markers for discriminating between chronic hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) inactive carriers.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV-infected patients who were HBeAg-negative with undetectable HBV DNA by standard hybridization assay and high (HBeAg-negative group, n = 81) or normal (HBsAg inactive carrier group, n = 77) ALT levels were enrolled. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay using a COBAS Amplicor HBV monitor test was performed to detect low HBV DNA levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HBV DNA level was found to be significantly higher in the HBeAg-negative chronic HBV group (mean ± SD 94,477 ± 167,528 copies/ml) compared with the HBsAg inactive carrier group (mean ± SD 19,215 ± 57,970 copies/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low level of viral replication may persist in chronic HBV-infected patients who are HBeAg-negative, and the level of HBV DNA was higher in the HBeAg-negative group than in the inactive HBsAg carrier group. Necroinflammation also persisted in the HBeAg-negative group and these patients had a higher level of ALT than the inactive HBsAg carriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Baglar Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. aeatay@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seven
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Degertekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase