Levels of viraemia in subjects with serological markers of past or chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Scand J Infect Dis. 2000;32(3):249-52. doi: 10.1080/00365540050165866.

Abstract

Subjects with serological markers for a past HBV infection may still have HBV DNA in their serum, but the levels of viraemia in such cases are not known. In the present study, of 63 consecutive HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive serum samples with or without anti-HBs, 20 were HBV DNA-positive as analysed by a highly sensitive quantitative PCR, the Cobas Amplicor HBV Monitor test. However, all of these 20 samples had viraemia levels below 1000 copies/ml, compared with median viraemia levels of 10(8.6) and 10(4.3) copies/ml, respectively, in 98 HBeAg-positive and 124 HBeAg-negative HBsAg carriers. There was no difference in viraemia between subjects with anti-HBc alone compared with both anti-HBs and anti-HBc, nor between those with or without hepatitis C virus antibodies. The findings indicate that HBsAg-negative subjects may retain a low infectivity. Their risk for progressive liver damage is probably low, but this deserves further study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Viral / blood*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B / virology*
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Antigens / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Viremia / diagnosis*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens