Abstract
The levels of HBV replication in the nonreplicative phase are not clear. We conducted this study to evaluate the levels of viral replication during the nonreplicative phase in chronic HBV-infected Korean patients using real-time PCR. A total of 125 patients were classified into three groups: inactive HBsAg carriers, inactive liver cirrhosis patients, and resolved chronic HBV-infected patients with loss of HBsAg. The real-time PCR detected HBV DNA in 112 cases (89.6%). The mean levels of HBV DNA were 3.84, 4.10, and 3.31 log copies/ml in the three groups, respectively (P <0.01). Ninety-five percent of inactive HBsAg carriers showed levels of HBV DNA lower than 6×104 copies/ml. In conclusion, we showed different levels of HBV DNA exactly in three groups during nonreplicative phases. We suggest that the cutoff level of HBV DNA in inactive HBsAg carriers should be readjusted to a lower level in future studies.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2403-2409 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Digestive Diseases and Sciences |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 Sept |
Keywords
- HBsAg loss
- Hepatitis B virus DNA
- Inactive HBsAg carriers
- Nonreplicative phase
- Real-time PCR
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Gastroenterology