title: Can serum level of HBsAg differentiate HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B from inactive carrier state?
abstract: Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection exerts both inactive carrier (IC) state and chronic hepatitis B (CHB), which are sometimes difficult to be differentiated. We aimed to assess the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level in differentiation of CHB and IC among a group of chronic HBeAg-negative HBV-infected patients. A total of 251 HBeAg-negative HBV-infected patients were enrolled. Serum HBV DNA and HBsAg levels were determined for each patient. HBV DNA quantification with cutoff value 2000IU/mL for diagnosis of CHB had 99.0% sensitivity and 74.1% specificity. A cutoff value of HBsAg level at 1000IU/mL was more reliable for diagnosis of CHB with 82.7% sensitivity and 66.2% specificity than other HBsAg cutoff values. There was a positive correlation between HBV DNA and HBsAg levels in both CHB (r=0.42, P<0.001) and IC (r=0.43, P<0.001) groups. Single-point HBsAg quantification did not have enough sensitivity and specificity for differentiation of HBeAg-negative CHB and IC state.
authors: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Shahnaz
authors: S
authors: Sali
authors: Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, IR Iran; Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Heidar
authors: H
authors: Sharafi
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Seyede Hoda
authors: SH
authors: Alavian
authors: Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, IR Iran; Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Seyed Moayed
authors: SM
authors: Alavian
authors: Hepatitis Clinic, Tehran Blood Transfusion Center, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Faranak
authors: F
authors: Etesam
authors: Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, IR Iran; Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Shima
authors: S
authors: Salimi
authors: Azadi Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq.
authors: Muayad A
authors: MA
authors: Merza
authors: Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, IR Iran; Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, IR Iran; Hepatitis Clinic, Tehran Blood Transfusion Center, Tehran, IR Iran; Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, IR Iran. Electronic address: m.keshvari@ibto.ir.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Keshvari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; HBV; HBsAg; Viral load