title: Re-recognizing serological change patterns and antiviral therapy opportunity of patients with acute hepatitis B through highly sensitive detection technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to re-recognize serological change patterns of patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB) by a highly sensitive detection technology, as well as to explore methods to select the optimal treatment opportunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biochemical and virological parameters of 558 AHB patients were analyzed retrospectively. The serological markers of hepatitis B virus and HBV DNA were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and automatic real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the positive rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (86.2%) was significantly higher than the positive rate of HBV DNA (51.9%). Among the 58 patients with HBsAg-negative AHB, 16 were detected with trace amounts of HBV DNA at baseline. At 12 weeks, the HBsAg of 43 cases remained positive, and the mean level of HBsAg was 587.5IU/mL±313.4IU/mL. A total of 18 patients with HBsAg levels greater than 1500IU/mL at 12 weeks received interferon α-1b treatment and achieved HBsAg clearance within 24 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unlike traditional changing patterns, the clearance of HBV DNA in peripheral circulation for a few patients with AHB occurred later than HBsAg clearance. Detection of HBV DNA in peripheral circulation by highly sensitive detection technology could provide a diagnostic basis for those AHB patients who rapidly achieved HBsAg clearance before achieving HBV DNA clearance in their peripheral circulation and prevent misdiagnosis. Dynamic monitoring of the changes in HBsAg levels through highly sensitive detection technology could be used as a guide for the timely adoption of antiviral treatment with interferon and then AHB chronicity would be prevented.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: 18622663700@163.com.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Junjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Hepatology, No. 75, Sudi Road, 300192 Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha