Relationship between HBV DNA load and levels of serum HBsAg in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the relationship between HBV DNA load and levels of serum HBsAg in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between April 20013 and July 2015, serum samples were collected from 124 CHB patients. Levels of serum HBsAg was determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay and HBV DNA load was measured using quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR (qPCR). Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between HBV DNA load and levels of serum HBsAg. RESULTS Serum HBsAg levels were significantly higher in the group with HBV DNA > 1×103 copies/ml than the group with HBV DNA < 1×103 copies/ml (t=5.983, p=0.000<0.05). One hundred samples with HBV DNA > 1×103 copies/ml were further divided into three subgroups based on HBV DNA load, including group A (levels of serum HBV DNA between 1×103- 1×105 copies/ml), group B (1×105- 1×107 copies/ml) and group C (> 1×107 copies/ml). Levels of serum HBsAg increased with increasing load of HBV DNA. HBsAg levels were the highest in group C and the lowest in group A with significant differences between groups (p<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that levels of serum HBV DNA were positively correlated with levels of serum HBsAg (r=0.657, p=0.000<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HBV DNA load has a certain correlation with levels of serum HBsAg in CHB patients. The combination of HBV DNA load assessment and measurement of serum HBsAg levels can accurately determine HBV infection condition, help with the selection of optimal therapy and predict prognosis.