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Hepatitis B virus DNA in serum and liver is commonly found in chinese patients with chronic liver disease despite the presence of antibodies to HBsAg
Author(s) -
Zhang YongYuan,
Hansson Bengt Göran,
Kuo Lin Sheng,
Widell Anders,
Nordenfelt Erik
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840170403
Subject(s) - hbsag , hepatitis b virus , virus , virology , medicine , liver biopsy , liver disease , hepatology , hepatitis , hbeag , hepatitis b , antibody , hepatitis c virus , serology , chronic liver disease , immunology , biopsy , cirrhosis
Sera from 410 patients from the Wuhan area in the central part of China with the diagnosis of chronic liver disease were analyzed for markers of hepatitis B, C and D virus infections. All sera, plus liver biopsy specimens from 188 of the patients, were also tested for hepatitis B virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Sixty‐eight percent were HBsAg positive in serum, whereas 29% showed markers of past hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in all HBeAg‐positive sera but also in 58% of patients with HBe antibody. In the liver specimens of the corresponding patient groups, 97% and 78%, respectively, were hepatitis B virus DNA positive. However, more noteworthy was that of the HBsAg‐negative/HBsantibody positive patients 30% had detectable hepatitis B virus DNA in serum and 32% had hepatitis B virus DNA in liver tissue, whereas in a control group of healthy blood donors, of which 90% had HBs antibody, none was hepatitis B virus DNA positive. Our results demonstrate that among patients with chronic liver disease, infections with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis B virus‐related virus(es) may frequently occur without being revealed by conventional serological methods. Hepatitis C and D viruses seem to be of only minor importance in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease in this part of China. (H EPATOLOGY 1993;17:538–544.)