HIGH PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-B VIRAL-DNA IN CIRRHOTIC-PATIENTS WITHOUT SURFACE-ANTIGEN

The diagnosis of liver diseases induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is supported by the detection of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum. Th e present study aimed to investigate the presence of HBV deoxyribonucl eic acid (DNA) in patients with liver cirrhosis using a polymerase cha in reaction (PCR) based on primers derived from the pre-S1 and pre-cor e regions. HBsAg was detected in 10 of 48 patients (21%), total anti-h epatitis B core antigen (HBc) antibodies in 54%, anti-hepatitis B e an tigen (HBeAg) in 14.6%, anti-HBc immunoglobulin M in 8%, and anti-HBs in 26%; none had detectable HBeAg. HBV DNA was detected in 73% of the cirrhotic patients. All cirrhotic patients with HBsAg also had HBV DNA ; HBV DNA was detected in 64.5% of those without HBsAg. We conclude th at the clearance of HBsAg does not necessarily indicate termination of viraemia in patients with liver cirrhosis and the detection of HBV DN A using a PCR based on primers from the pre-S1 and pre-core regions sh ould be included in the diagnosis of HBV infection.