Analysis of relationship between HBeAg and HBV DNA levels and grading of liver inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To determine the relationship between HBeAg and HBV DNA levels and grading of liver inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods Serum HBeAg and HBV DNA were assayed by MEIA and PCR in 74 patients with HBeAg-negative and 73 patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B who had undergone liver biopsy and pathological grading. Results The serum HBV DNA levels in 27 patients(36%) HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were higher 10~5 copies/ml.The number of patient at the HBV DNA level increase along with G1～G4 grading ascendant.The correlation between two factors has statistically remarkable significance.Those serum HBeAg quantitative levels are 0～29 PEIU/ml. The number of HBeAg quantitative-positive patients increase also along with G1～G4 grading ascendant and the correlation between two items has statistically significance.However,there are no relationship between serum HBeAg and HBV DNA and G1～G4 grading in 73 patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B whose HBV DNA levels are higher than 10~5 copies/ml. Conclusions Serum HBV DNA level is the indicator by which grading of liver inflammation can be judged in the patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and former is positively interrelated with latter significantly.That Serum HBeAg level is low but HBV DNA duplicate actively may indicate that there is C-zone mutation in 36% patients with HBeAgnegative chronic hepatitis B.Serum HBV DNA level cannot reflect grading of liver inflammation in the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.