BACKGROUND: A direct correlation between hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) and liver markers has not been identified in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, the effect of HBV-DNA changes on liver markers remains unclear. We explored the association between decreased HBV-DNA and liver makers in CHB patients. METHODS: Chronic hepatitis B patients who visited Jinhua Central Hospital twice were selected for analysis. Finally, 171 participants with a 1-log reduction in HBV-DNA between the two visits were enrolled as the case group, and 158 participants with no significant changes in HBV-DNA were enrolled as the control group. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between HBV-DNA and liver markers (P>.05). However, in longitudinal analysis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were significantly different between the two tests (P<.05) in the case group. Conversely, there was no significant difference in the control group. When HBV-DNA decreased >26 times, ALT was reduced by half or more. A similar trend was observed with a decrease of >63 times for AST and a decrease of >76 times for GGT. CONCLUSIONS: A large change in HBV-DNA can lead to a significant variation in liver markers. In particular, ALT was more sensitive than other liver markers to a reduction in HBV-DNA.
BACKGROUND: A direct correlation between hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) and liver markers has not been identified in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, the effect of HBV-DNA changes on liver markers remains unclear. We explored the association between decreased HBV-DNA and liver makers in CHB patients. METHODS: Chronic hepatitis Bpatients who visited Jinhua Central Hospital twice were selected for analysis. Finally, 171 participants with a 1-log reduction in HBV-DNA between the two visits were enrolled as the case group, and 158 participants with no significant changes in HBV-DNA were enrolled as the control group. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between HBV-DNA and liver markers (P>.05). However, in longitudinal analysis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were significantly different between the two tests (P<.05) in the case group. Conversely, there was no significant difference in the control group. When HBV-DNA decreased >26 times, ALT was reduced by half or more. A similar trend was observed with a decrease of >63 times for AST and a decrease of >76 times for GGT. CONCLUSIONS: A large change in HBV-DNA can lead to a significant variation in liver markers. In particular, ALT was more sensitive than other liver markers to a reduction in HBV-DNA.
Authors: Roberto de Franchis; Antoine Hadengue; George Lau; Daniel Lavanchy; Anna Lok; Neil McIntyre; Alfonso Mele; Gustav Paumgartner; Antonello Pietrangelo; Juan Rodés; William Rosenberg; Dominique Valla Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2003 Impact factor: 25.083