THE VALUE OF QUANTITATIVE DETECTION OF HBV-DNA AMPLIFIED BY PCR IS THE STUDY OF HEPATITIS-B INFECTION

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of quanti fying HBV-DNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction in chronic hepati tis B infection.Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 32 asymptoma tic HBV carriers and 99 chronic hepatitis B patients (62 positive for anti-HBe and 37 positive for HBeAg), In addition, serial serum samples were analyzed from 15 HBeAg positive patients undergoing antiviral th erapy and 17 anti-HBe positive patients with precore mutation. HBV-DNA quantification was carried out using an enzyme immunoassay with an HB V-DNA plasma standard. Results: The digoxigenin-incorporated polymeras e chain reaction method detected HBV-DNA in 34.3% of the asymptomatic HBV carriers with a median HBV-DNA concentration of about 0.18x10(5) m ol/ml (range 0.08-0.4), in 87% of the anti-HBe positive chronic hepati tis cases with a range of 0.2 to >2x10(5) mol/ml and in 100% of the HB eAg positive patients, with a value in ail cases over 2x10(5) mol/ml. We observed that after treatment, HBV-DNA tested negative in only two of the eight HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis patients who seroconvert ed to anti-HBe, and was positive in the seven remaining, with a median HBV-DNA value of about 0.2x10(5) mol/ml (0.09-0.4). In the precore mu tants HBV-DNA values ranged from 0.2 to >2x10(5) mol/ml. Conclusions: Polymerase chain reaction HBV-DNA quantification is a sensitive method for managing chronic hepatitis B patients, especially those with low viremia, and may be a valuable tool for evaluating the efficacy of ant iviral therapy.