Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Quantification across Different Phases of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection Using an Immunoradiometric Assay

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 9; no. 5; pp. 657 - 664
• Main Authors: Chung, Kwang Hyun, Kim, Won, Kim, Byeong Gwan, Lee, Ho-Young, Jin, Eunhyo, Cho, Yuri, Seo, Ji Yeon, Kim, Hwi Young, Jung, Yong Jin, Kim, Ji Won, Jeong, Ji Bong, Lee, Kook Lae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Gut and Liver 01.09.2015; Gastroenterology Council for Gut and Liver; 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Biomarkers - blood; Disease Progression; dna; DNA, Viral - blood; Female; Hepatitis B e Antigens - blood; hepatitis b surface antigens; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; hepatitis b virus; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - immunology; Humans; Immunoradiometric Assay; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Seoul; Viral Load; Virus Replication; 내과학; Seoul; Hepatitis B surface antigens; Immunoradiometric assay; Hepatitis B virus; DNA
• ISSN: 1976-2283; 2005-1212; 2005-1212
• DOI: 10.5009/gnl14188

Quantification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is an emerging serologic test and may be useful for identifying treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to evaluate HBsAg titers during the natural course of CHB and identify correlations between HBsAg titers and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA concentrations across different CHB phases measured using an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). CHB phases were defined on the basis of HBV DNA concentrations, the presence of hepatitis B e antigen/antibody (HBeAg/Ab) and serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Serum HBsAg titers and paired HBV DNA concentrations in the different phases of CHB were compared using 627 serum samples. Mean HBsAg titers were significantly higher in the immunotolerant (IT) phase and immunoreactive (IR) HBeAg-positive phase than in the low-replicative (LR) and HBeAg-negative CHB (ENH) states. The correlation between HBsAg titers and HBV DNA concentrations was modest in the IT (n=36, r=0.804, p<0.001) and IR (n=48, r=0.773, p<0.001) phases, and it was poor in the LR state (n=116, r=0.289, p=0.002); however, no significant correlation was observed in the ENH state (n=67, r=0.146, p=0.237) or in the oral nucleos(t)ide analogue-treated group (n=267). HBsAg quantification using IRMA might be useful for discriminating different CHB phases and different stages of chronic liver disease.