Comparison between Quantitative Hepatitis B DNA and HBeAg Positivity to Detect Active Viral Replication among Patients with Hepatitis B infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

To study the correlation between quantitative Hepatitis B DNA and HBeAg positivity among HBsAg positive patients in a tertiary care hospital. To detect HBsAg, HBeAg levels by CMIA (Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay). To perform quantitative Hepatitis B virus DNA assay using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. The study took place between July and December 2022 for 6 months. Sixty four patients were included in the study for whom HBsAg was positive by CMIA and for whom HBeAg (detected by CMIA) and Hepatitis B Virus DNA by quantitative Real Time PCR was performed. Of the 64 HBsAg reactive patients, the ‘e’ antigen of Hepatitis B virus was positive in six patients. In all the six HBeAg positive patients, HBV DNA was detected with a range of 78-10,288 IU/ml with 66% having levels more than 2000 IU/ml and requiring treatment. Among the 58 patients who were negative for the ‘e’ antigen of Hepatitis B virus, the Hepatitis B Viral DNA was detected in 27 patients with a range of 10-1,76,000 IU/ml, with 21% of patients having levels more than 2000 IU/ml. HBeAg is a good serological test to detect viral replication. However, it alone might not be sufficient as quantitative HBV DNA levels are more accurate and it does identify more patients who may require treatment.