title: [Quantification of the hepatitis B surface antigen in the characterization and follow-up].
abstract: The recent availability of commercial techniques for the quantification of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has revived interest in this antigen. In recent years, the antigen's potential as a biomarker of the natural history of the disease and its response to antiviral treatment has been assessed. HBsAg serum values reflect the transcriptional activity of cccDNA; reading these values could therefore complement the reading of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the categorization of the various phases of chronic HBV infection. During its natural history, HBsAg values progressively decrease from the immune-tolerant phase to the inactive carrier phase. For patients who are HBeAg-negative, the combined reading of HBV DNA and HBsAg can be useful for differentiating inactive carriers from patients with chronic HBeAg-negative hepatitis, for stratifying the risk of developing hepatocarcinoma and for predicting HBsAg clearance.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hepatología, Servicio de Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España. Electronic address: manurodrigg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hepatología, Servicio de Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: González-Diéguez
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
keywords: HBeAg; Hepatitis B; Hepatocarcinoma; Historia natural; Natural history; cccADN; cccDNA