The clinical significance of quantitative HBSAG in patients with HBEAG negative chronic hepatitis B

Background: The quantification of HBsAg provides different and complementary information that helps in determination of the different phases of chronic hepatitis B viral infection, evaluation and follow-up of liver disease progression as well as in treatment individualization.Aim: To evaluate the clinical significance of quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg) in patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis (CHB) and its correlation with the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), quantitative HBV DNA and liver fibrosis.Subjects and Methods: The study included 53 treatment naïve patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B. All patients underwent complete laboratory and serology testing, quantification of HBV DNA and HBs antigen. The liver stiffness was measured with elastography. Patients’ demographic characteristics, viral and biochemical markers were recorded at one point of time.Results: Correlation analysis between the qHBsAg and ALT showed an significant, positive correlation between the parameters for R=0.42 and p<0.05; there was statistically non-significant positive correlation for R=0.25 and p>0.05 between qHBsAg and HBV DNA. There was a positive correlation between qHBsAg and liver fibrosis for R=0.08 and p>0.05. The serum levels of HBsAg had greater impact on the serum levels of ALT compared to that of HBV DNA for R=0.15 and p>0.05.Conclusion: Patients with higher ALT values and higher liver fibrosis score have higher qHBsAg; qHBsAg can reflect the serum HBV DNA levels.