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HBV-DNA levels in HBsAg-positive blood donors and its relationship with liver histology.

Nabuco LC, Villela-Nogueira CA, Perez RM, Ceci L, Pannain VL, Nogueira CM, Segadas-Soares JA, Coelho HS

Division of Hepatology, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. leticia.nabuco@terra.com.br

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical meaning of viremia, especially at low levels, in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to determine serum HBV-DNA levels and its relationship with liver histology in HBsAg-positive blood donors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 78 blood donors, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBeAg evaluation and quantitative determination of HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction (Amplicor, HBV Monitor, Roche; lower limit of sensitivity 1,000 copies/mL). Liver biopsy was obtained from all patients with detectable viremia irrespective of ALT and HBV-DNA levels. RESULTS: Among 78 blood donors, serum HBV-DNA was detected in 47 (60%) patients; 39 (83%) were males; mean age 37.6+/-10.4 years; 31 (66%) were HBeAg-negative, and ALT was elevated in 26 (55%). The median of HBV-DNA levels was 24,000 copies/mL and 31 (40%) subjects had no detectable serum HBV-DNA. Although the histologic lesions were mild in the majority of patients, HBV-DNA levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis when compared with patients without histologic liver disease (25,260,000 vs. 9480 copies/mL; P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between HBV-DNA levels and necroinflammatory score (r=0.59) and fibrosis (r=0.50); however, in the subset of HBeAg-negative patients with HBV-DNA levels below 30,000 copies/mL, 25% presented histologic disease related to HBV. CONCLUSIONS: Most HBsAg-positive blood donors show low viral load. There is a significant association between viral replication and liver damage; however, low HBV-DNA levels do not exclude the presence of histologic disease.

Published 24 January 2007 in J Clin Gastroenterol, 41(2): 194-8.
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