title: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Quantification across Different Phases of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection Using an Immunoradiometric Assay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quantification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is an emerging serologic test and may be useful for identifying treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to evaluate HBsAg titers during the natural course of CHB and identify correlations between HBsAg titers and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA concentrations across different CHB phases measured using an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA).
  
  
  METHODS
  CHB phases were defined on the basis of HBV DNA concentrations, the presence of hepatitis B e antigen/antibody (HBeAg/Ab) and serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Serum HBsAg titers and paired HBV DNA concentrations in the different phases of CHB were compared using 627 serum samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean HBsAg titers were significantly higher in the immunotolerant (IT) phase and immunoreactive (IR) HBeAg-positive phase than in the low-replicative (LR) and HBeAg-negative CHB (ENH) states. The correlation between HBsAg titers and HBV DNA concentrations was modest in the IT (n=36, r=0.804, p<0.001) and IR (n=48, r=0.773, p<0.001) phases, and it was poor in the LR state (n=116, r=0.289, p=0.002); however, no significant correlation was observed in the ENH state (n=67, r=0.146, p=0.237) or in the oral nucleos(t)ide analogue-treated group (n=267).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBsAg quantification using IRMA might be useful for discriminating different CHB phases and different stages of chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byeong Gwan
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eunhyo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwi Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Bong
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kook Lae
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D066106:Seoul; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: DNA; Hepatitis B surface antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Immunoradiometric assay