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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA

Published on: December 15, 2023

Relationship between serum hepatitis B virus DNA and surface antigen with covalently closed circular DNA in

L Y Lin1, V W S Wong, H J Zhou

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.

Journal of Medical Virology
|July 22, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Serum HBV DNA levels correlate with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. This finding helps understand viral persistence and disease activity.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is the primary driver of persistent HBV infection.
  • Identifying reliable serum markers for intrahepatic cccDNA is crucial for managing HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.
  • Understanding the relationship between serum markers and intrahepatic viral activity is key to assessing disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum surrogate markers for intrahepatic HBV cccDNA.
  • To evaluate intrahepatic viral events in relation to disease activity in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients.
  • To determine if serum HBV DNA or HBsAg levels correlate with cccDNA and viral replication efficiency.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 33 treatment-naïve HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy.
  • Active disease was defined by elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (>40 IU/L) and HBV DNA (>10,000 copies/ml).
  • Correlations between serum HBV DNA, serum HBsAg, intrahepatic cccDNA, and total intrahepatic HBV DNA were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Serum HBV DNA showed a significant positive correlation with both log cccDNA (r=0.41, P=0.018) and log total intrahepatic HBV DNA (r=0.71, P<0.0001).
  • Serum HBsAg did not significantly correlate with log cccDNA (P=0.15) or log total intrahepatic HBV DNA (P=0.97).
  • Patients with active disease exhibited significantly higher median log cccDNA and log total intrahepatic HBV DNA levels compared to those with inactive disease.

Conclusions:

  • Serum HBV DNA levels serve as a surrogate marker for intrahepatic HBV cccDNA and viral replication efficiency in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.
  • Serum HBsAg levels do not accurately reflect the intrahepatic viral load or cccDNA levels in this patient group.
  • These findings highlight the utility of serum HBV DNA in monitoring viral persistence and disease activity.

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