HBV DNA level and antigen concentration in evaluating liver damage of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations between HBV DNA levels and viral antigen concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis B and their significance in clinical practice. METHODS: The HBV DNA levels and serological markers of 118 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 87 patients with liver cirrhosis who had not been treated with antiviral drugs were determined as well as the other parameters relevant to liver function. RESULTS: The HBV DNA levels of the patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were expressed as geometric mean+/-SD, 3.83 x 10(6)+/-1.34 copies/ml and 6.98 x 10(5)+/-1.29 copies/ml, and their HBeAg concentrations expressed as the luminescent values rate of sample to control (s/co) were 35.40+/-1.26 and 4.05+/-1.28, respectively. The HBV DNA levels in HBeAg positive group were significantly higher than those in HBeAg negative group (P<0.0001). The correlation coefficient between HBV DNA level and HBeAg or HBsAg concentration was only 0.273 and -0.12. During the recovery of hepatic function, the reduction of ALT or AST in patients with high viral content was significantly lower than that in patients with low viral content. No correlation was observed between HBV DNA and ALT levels. CONCLUSION: There are significant correlations between HBV DNA level and HBeAg concentration, but the coefficient is lower. HBV DNA level is not significantly related to ALT, but it could affect the recovery of liver function.