Levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication during the nonreplicative phase: HBV quantification by real-time PCR in Korea

Hyung Joon Yim, Kwan Soo Byun, Yun Jung Chang, Yeon Seok Suh, Jong Eun Yeon, Chang Hong Lee, Jung Ah Kwon, Wangdon Yoo, Soo Ok Kim, Sun Pyo Hong

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    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 languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2403-2409
    Number of pages7
    JournalDigestive Diseases and Sciences
    Volume52
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007 Sept

    Keywords

    • HBsAg loss
    • Hepatitis B virus DNA
    • Inactive HBsAg carriers
    • Nonreplicative phase
    • Real-time PCR

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physiology
    • Gastroenterology

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