Correlation of HBV DNA PCR and HBeAg in hepatitis B carriers.

OBJECTIVE

To correlate hepatitis B HBV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results with HBeAg and serum alanine transferase (ALT) in carriers.

DESIGN

Non-interventional descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The study was carried out at Virology Department, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from January 2001 to September 2002.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty hepatitis B carriers, with known HBsAg positive serostatus, raised serum ALT and detectable HBV DNA, were selected out of the patients reporting at AFIP for their blood test for HBV DNA. HBV DNA testing in these cases was carried out using PCR kit of Accugen-USA. After confirmation of their carrier status and raised serum ALT levels, the sera were tested for HBeAg and results of HBeAg testing were correlated with those of HBV DNA testing.

RESULTS

Out of the total 50 HBV DNA PCR positive hepatitis B carriers, 48 samples were positive for HBeAg. All the 50 HBV DNA positive cases had raised serum ALT levels.

CONCLUSION

In case of non-availability of facility for HBV PCR, detectable HBeAg should be taken as a surrogate marker for HBV DNA in hepatitis B carriers with raised serum ALT.