Changes in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positivity in chronic HBV infection: results of a long-term follow-up study of 138 patients.

In an assessment of the clinical relevance of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA testing in chronic HBV infection, changes in the presence of this marker were investigated by spot hybridization in 138 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients with chronic liver disease who were followed up for one to eight years. Forty-one patients were treated with steroids, often with evidence of potentiation of viral replication, whereas 92 patients remained untreated and had no evidence of sigma agent infection during follow-up. Data analysis in these patients allowed us to determine the significance of testing for hepatitis B e antigen and for HBV DNA in the natural history of the infection. The findings indicate that sequential testing for serum HBV DNA may be of great importance in HBsAg chronic carriers with liver disease for adequate evaluation of HBV replication and for the contribution of HBV DNA to the clinical assessment of chronic hepatitis.