scholarly journals The relationship between serum hepatitis B core-related antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baiguo Xu ◽  
Lian Jia ◽  
Anjing Liu ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Tao Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hbv Dna ◽  
Hepatic Carcinoma ◽  
Primary Hepatic Carcinoma ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Treatment Naïve ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pugh Class ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Aims. The relationship between hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA has already been adequately researched in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, but there are only a few researches yet on the correlations between HBcrAg and HBV DNA in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. Here we explore the correlation between HBcrAg and HBV DNA in this population. Methods. Available data and samples of 98 untreated patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis between October 2018 and October 2019 were analysed. Statistical analyses included baseline characteristics, univariate analysis, stratification analysis, three different analytical models, and a generalized additive model. Results. After adjusting for all recorded confounders (sex, age, diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma, total bilirubin（TBIL）, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg), Child–Pugh class, family history of HBV infection, family history of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and diabetes mellitus), a linear relationship was detected between HBcrAg and HBV DNA (β=0.59, 95%CI=0.34–0.84, P<0.0001). The variational trend of HBcrAg and HBV DNA in each stratified variable (sex, age, HBeAg, family history of HBV infection, family history of HCC, diabetes mellitus, diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma, Child–Pugh class, and ALD) were consistent. Conclusion. There was a linear and positive correlation between HBcrAg and HBV DNA in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.

scholarly journals Hepatitis B Core-related Antigen: An Alternative to Hepatitis B Virus DNA to Assess Treatment Eligibility in Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Shimakawa ◽  
Gibril Ndow ◽  
Ramou Njie ◽  
Harr Freeya Njai ◽  
Kazuaki Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Treatment Algorithm ◽  
Hbv Dna ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Treatment Naïve

Abstract Background To eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, it is essential to scale up testing and treatment. However, conventional tools to assess treatment eligibility, particularly nucleic acid testing (NAT) to quantify HBV DNA, are hardly available and affordable in resource-limited countries. We therefore assessed the performance of a novel immunoassay, hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg), as an inexpensive (US$ <15/assay) alternative to NAT to diagnose clinically important HBV DNA thresholds (≥2000, ≥20 000, and ≥200 000 IU/mL) and to select patients for antiviral therapy in Africa. Methods Using a well-characterized cohort of treatment-naive patients with chronic HBV infection in The Gambia, we evaluated the accuracy of serum HBcrAg to diagnose HBV DNA levels and to indicate treatment eligibility determined by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, based on reference tests (HBV DNA, hepatitis B e antigen, alanine aminotransferase, liver histopathology, and/or FibroScan). Results A total of 284 treatment-naive patients were included in the analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and specificity of serum HBcrAg were 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], .82–.93), 83.3%, and 83.9%, respectively, to diagnose HBV DNA ≥2000 IU/mL; and 0.94 (95% CI, .88–.99), 91.4%, and 93.2% for ≥200 000 IU/mL. A simplified treatment algorithm using HBcrAg without HBV DNA showed high AUROC (0.91 [95% CI, .88–.95]) with a sensitivity of 96.6% and specificity of 85.8%. Conclusions HBcrAg might be an accurate alternative to HBV DNA quantification as a simple and inexpensive tool to identify HBV-infected patients in need of antiviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Intrahepatic Distribution of Hepatitis B Virus Core Antigen and Serum ALT, HBV DNA Levels and HBeAg Status

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing He ◽  
Qi-yuan Tang ◽  
Xiao-hua Le ◽  
De-liang Lv ◽  
Xiang-mei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hbv Dna ◽  
Inflammatory Activity ◽  
Activity Score ◽  
Core Antigen ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Normal Alt ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Hbeag Status

Abstract Objective The clinical significance of differential distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleocapsid antigen in hepatocytes remains unknown. The goal of this study is to determine the relationship between distinct HBV core antigen distribution pattern and alanine transaminase (ALT), liver histological inflammatory activity grades, serum HBeAg status and HBV DNA level.Methods Total of 958 cases with chronic hepatitis B were recruited into this study. Liver function tests, serum HBV DNA level, serological HBV markers and liver immunohistochemistry were examined according to the conventional instructions. Chi Square tests were performed to analyze the differences among these groups.Results It was found that 552 (58%) cases were tested positive for HBV core antigen by immunohistochemical staining. Cytoplasmic hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expression correlated with ALT level and serum HBV DNA and liver inflammatory activity scores, however, nuclear HBcAg expression in hepatocytes was associated with normal ALT level, lower liver inflammatory activity score and higher serum HBV DNA level and rate of HBeAg positivity. Both nuclear and cytoplasmic HBcAg expression in hepatocytes associated with a middle ALT level and liver inflammatory activity score, higher rate of serum detectable HBeAg and a higher HBV DNA level. However, undetectable core antigen was related to a lower ALT level and histological inflammatory activity grade, lower positive HBeAg rate and HBV DNA level.Conclusions Undetectable liver HBcAg is associated with HBV clearance, ALT normalization and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, and cytoplasmic HBcAg expression associated with higher hepatic inflammatory activity. However, nuclear HBcAg expression correlates with immune tolerance characterized with normal ALT and lower liver inflammatory activity, higher HBV replication level and higher rate of HBeAg positivity.

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