Abstract :
Background: Relationship between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level, HBV DNA level and hepatic fibrosis during the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are still unknown. Our objective is to correlate HBsAg level, HBV DNA and liver fibrosis in patients with different phases of chronic hepatitis B infection.
Subjects and Methods: One hundred seventy six patients with chronic hepatitis B without previous treatment were recruited. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data were collected. Liver fibrosis was assessed by transient elastography (Fibroscan). We determined quantitative HBsAg titer, HBV DNA level. Patients were classified into each phase of diseases and analyzed the correlation.
Results: One hundred thirteen males and 63 females at median age of 43 years were studied. Patients were classified into HBeAg positive (n=29), HBeAg negative with low replicative (n = 69) and HBeAg negative hepatitis (n = 78). In patients with HBeAg positive, HBsAg levels were significantly higher than those of patients with HBeAg negative (mean 19797 vs. 4282 IU/mL, p <0.01). No difference in HBsAg level between low replicative and HBeAg negative hepatitis group (mean 3689 vs. 4806 IU/mL, p = 0.32). HBsAg levels were significantly correlated with HBV DNA level in HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative with hepatitis groups (r = 0.698,p <0.01 and r = 0.287, p = 0.01, respectively). We neither found any correlation between liver fibrosis measured by
Fibroscan and HBsAg level nor HBV DNA level.
Conclusions: HBsAg levels were significantly higher in patients with HBeAg positive than those of patients with HBeAg negative. Some correlations were observed between HBsAg levels and HBV DNA level. No cross-sectional relationship between liver fibrosis measured by Fibroscan and HBsAg level or HBV DNA level. |
file/Thai-Journal-of-gastroenterology-vol-13-no-2-658472.pdf