Different levels of hepatitis B virus replication among hepatitis Be antigen-positive chronic carriers.

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase (HBV DNA-pol) activity and of HBV DNA sequences in serum allowed to distinguish the different degrees of HBV replication in chronic HBsAg carriers. The amount of HBV DNA in the serum of 48 HBsAg and HBeAg positive patients in relation with the presence or absence of HBV DNA-pol was determined by dot-blot hybridization. The HBeAg positive cases with HBV DNA-pol activity had significantly higher HBV DNA levels than those which were DNA-pol negative (p less than 0.001). However, no significant differences with respect to liver function tests (transaminase, albumin, gammaglobulin) or to the histological diagnosis were found between both groups. Quantitative detection of serum HBV DNA in HBsAg chronic carriers may be helpful for learning the natural history of HBV infection and monitoring the antiviral therapy.