No abstract

Carriers of HBV. Sera were obtained from 40 asymptomatic carriers of HBV, including 14 positive for HBeAg and 26 positive for anti-HBe, as well as from 42 patients with chronic 8102

No abstract

Quantitation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum is a useful method for the monitoring of HBV replication. We attempted to develop a quantitative assay system for HBV DNA that is more sensitive, accurate, and reproducible than existing systems. We detected HBV DNA by real-time detection PCR (RTD-PCR) based on Taq Man chemistry. The efficacy of this assay was evaluated by quantitatively measuring sequential levels of synthetic DNA and DNA in clinical serum samples. The detection limit of this system was as few as 10 DNA copies/reaction. A linear standard curve was obtained between 101 and 108 DNA copies/reaction. The coefficient of variation for both intra- and interexperimental variability indicated remarkable reproducibility. This system detected HBV DNA in 100% of chronic hepatitis B patients tested and never detected HBV DNA in healthy volunteers who were negative for HBV markers. These observations suggest that RTD-PCR is an excellent candidate for a standard HBV quantification method.

In patients with chronic hepatitis C; combined interferon and cyclosporin A treatment was more effective than interferon monotherapy. The benefit was mostly achieved in patients with a high viral load and HCV genotype 1.