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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
Relation of hepatitis B core antigen expression with histological activity, serum HBeAg, and HBV DNA levels
Aysegul Sari1, Yelda Dere, Betul Pakoz
1Department of Pathology, Izmir Ataturk Researh and Training Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. aysegulakder@gmail.com
Insights
Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expression is linked to liver disease progression in HBeAg-negative patients. Nuclear HBcAg and high HBV DNA levels indicate a higher risk for progressive liver disease in this group.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to severe liver conditions like cirrhosis and liver failure.
- Intrahepatic viral antigen expression patterns may offer prognostic insights into HBV disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between HBV core antigen (HBcAg) expression and histological activity index (HAI), fibrosis, hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) status, and HBV DNA levels in chronic HBV patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 114 liver biopsies from patients with chronic HBV infection.
- Immunohistochemical assessment of HBcAg expression.
- Correlation analysis with HAI, fibrosis, ALT levels, HBeAg status, and HBV DNA levels.
Main Results:
- Nuclear HBcAg expression did not correlate with ALT levels, HAI, or fibrosis.
- Nuclear HBcAg expression was higher in HBeAg-positive patients.
- In HBeAg-negative patients, nuclear HBcAg correlated with HBV DNA levels and fibrosis scores, unlike in HBeAg-positive patients. HBV DNA levels were also associated with HAI and fibrosis in HBeAg-negative patients.
Conclusions:
- HBeAg-negative HBV disease differs significantly from HBeAg-positive disease.
- Nuclear HBcAg expression and elevated HBV DNA levels in HBeAg-negative patients are indicators of increased risk for progressive liver disease.
Background:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potentially life-threatening liver infection which may progress to liver failure and cirrhosis. Intrahepatic expression patterns of viral antigens detected by immunohistochemistry may have prognostic implications in disease process.
Aim:
In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the HBV core antigen (HBcAg) expression and histological activity index (HAI), fibrosis, serum hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) status and HBV DNA levels in patients with chronic HBV infection.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 114 liver biopsies from patients with chronic HBV infection were included in the study. Immunohistochemical expression of HBcAg and its relation with HAI, fibrosis, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, HBeAg status and HBV DNA levels were assessed.
Results:
The presence of nuclear expression of HBcAg did not show any correlations with ALT levels, HAI and fibrosis score. When the groups were categorized according to the HBeAg status, nuclear HBcAg expression was found to be high in HBeAg positive patients. However, HBcAg nuclear expression showed significant correlations with HBV DNA levels and fibrosis scores in HBeAg negative but not HBeAg positive patients. HBV DNA levels were also significantly associated with HAI and fibrosis scores in HBeAg negative patients.
Conclusions:
Significant differences found between HBeAg positive and negative patients suggest that HBeAg negative disease is different from HBeAg positive disease, and also point outs that in HBeAg negative disease, patients with nuclear HBcAg expression and increased levels of HBV DNA levels are at a higher risk of developing progressive liver disease.
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