Characterization of Serum HBV RNA in Patients with Untreated HBeAg-Positive and -Negative Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Abstract

Background: The serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA is suggested as a potential new biomarker of HBV infection. However, it is not fully understood. Objectives: The current study aimed at characterizing serum HBV RNA in patients with untreated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and genotype B and C HBV infection. Methods: A large cohort of 483 patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and -negative was performed. The routine serum biomarkers of HBV infection were tested. HBV genotyping was carried out by direct sequencing. Serum HBV RNA levels were quantified using a method described in the authors' previous study (lower limit of detection: 66.7 IU/mL). Results: Serum HBV RNA was detected in 92.5% (394/426) of the patients with HBeAg-positive and 31.6% (18/57) of HBeAg-negative ones; a positive association was observed between HBeAg and HBV RNA statuses in the subjects. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBV DNA, and genotype were the independent predictors in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB (P = 0.024, 0.001 and 0.014, respectively), while it was HBV DNA in the negative ones (P = 0.000) for serum HBV RNA detectability. Serum HBV RNA was positively correlated with ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST) and HBV DNA, regardless of HBeAg status, and with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in HBeAg-positive ones (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Serum HBV RNA may be affected by HBeAg status, serum HBV DNA, HBsAg levels, HBV genotype, ALT, and AST levels. There might be some similarities between the characteristics of serum HBV RNA, and serum HBV DNA and HBsAg, regardless of its distinctive features. The roles of serum HBV RNA in viral replication, infection, survival, disease progression, and antiviral responses need to be investigated in further studied.

Analysis of serum hepatitis B virus RNA levels among HBsAg and HBsAb copositive patients and its correlation with HBV DNA

“…In this study, the following correlation analysis results between HBV RNA levels and HBV DNA, HBsAg, ALT, and AST levels in the 149 HBsAg and HBsAb copositive patients were noted: serum HBV RNA levels were all positively correlated with HBV DNA (correlation efficient r = 0.667, P = .000), HBsAg (correlation efficient r = 0.330, P = .000), ALT (correlation efficient r = 0.263, P = .001) and AST levels (correlation efficient r = 0.218, P = .007). The best correlation was noted between HBV RNA levels and HBV DNA levels, which is consistent with previous studies [29–30] . Therefore, HBV RNA can be used as a potential virological marker to assess the efficacy of antiviral therapy in CHB patients.…”

“…The best correlation was noted between HBV RNA levels and HBV DNA levels, which is consistent with previous studies. [ 29 – 30 ] Therefore, HBV RNA can be used as a potential virological marker to assess the efficacy of antiviral therapy in CHB patients. A recent study indicated that HBV RNA may exhibit a fast and significant decline that correlates with treatment response and HBsAg loss at long-term follow-up during PEG-IFN treatment for HBeAg-negative CHB.…”

Serum hepatitis B virus ribonucleic acid and its influencing factors in chronic hepatitis B

“…20 Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that qHBsAg and HBeAg are factors that influence serum HBV RNA below the lower limit of detection in patients with CHB. In this study, the total detection rate of serum HBV RNA in patients with CHB was 32% (23/72), which was similar to the detection rate in the study by Huang et al 12 However, the detection rate in the study conducted by Li et al 21 was 85.3%. Among other factors, this difference may be due to sample selection, demographic characteristics and variable methodology.…”

Host sex disparity and viral genotype dependence of the glycosylation level of small Hepatitis B surface protein in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic Hepatitis B

“…The serum samples of 328 untreated HBeAg-positive Chinese CHB patients with GTB or GTC HBV infection were from our previous registered clinical study (NCT01088009) [ 21 , 22 ]. The informed consents were obtained.…”

“…Serum level of HBV DNA was quantitated by TaqMan 48 automatic fluorescence quantitative PCR kits using Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan 48 Analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) [ 22 ]. Serum level of HBV RNA was quantitated by our published in-house assay [ 21 ].…”