Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and DNA Quantification among e Negative Chronic HBV Infected Patients in Two Nigerian Hospitals - Abstract
Introduction & aim: Hepatitis B is a public health problem, responsible for about 6000 deaths annually. HBV DNA and HBsAg quantification have implication for chronicity, response to treatment, frequency of long-term complications and chances of cure. This study aimed to describe the pattern of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen and DNA quantification among patients with e negative chronic hepatitis B. Materials & method: One Hundred and Twenty-One asymptomatic, treatment naïve, e negative chronic hepatitis B patients were recruited. HBsAg and HBV DNA quantification and anti HBe were done on their sera. Results: Of the 121 Subjects recruited, 75 (62%) were males while 46 (38%) were females with ages ranging from 18 to 68years. Twelve (10%) patients were negative for anti HBe while 109 (90%) were positive for it. The HBsAg quantification ranged from 0.25 to 52,000 IU/ml with a median of 5289and mean 3.33 ± 1.32 log10 UI/ml. Ninety-Three (77%) patients had their HBsAg quantification ? 1000 IU/ml. HBV DNA quantification ranged from 15 to 26,000 UI/ ml with a median of 560IU/ml and mean 2.67± 1.24 log10 UI/ml. Ninety-Two (76%) patients had HBV DNA < 2000 UI/ml. The was no correlation between HBsAg and HBVDNA quantification (rho= 0.13, p=0.13). Conclusion: Quantitative HBsAg level are high among Nigerian patients with e negative chronic HBV infection despite low HBV DNA count. There was no correlation between HBsAg and HBV DNA quantification.