Associations of Expressions of HBcAg and HBsAg with the Histologic Activity of Liver Disease and Viral Replication.
- Author:
Myung Su SON
1
;
Jeong Hwan YOO
;
Chang Il KWON
;
Kwang Hyun KO
;
Sung Pyo HONG
;
Seong Gyu HWANG
;
Pil Won PARK
;
Choong Kee PARK
;
Kyu Sung RIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang CHA Medical Center, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, Korea. ksrimmd@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
HBcAg;
HBsAg;
Necroinflammatory stage;
Fibrosis;
Virus replication
- MeSH:
Antigens, Surface;
Biopsy;
Cytoplasm;
DNA;
Fibrosis;
Hepatitis;
Hepatitis B Core Antigens;
Hepatitis B e Antigens;
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens;
Hepatitis B virus;
Hepatitis B, Chronic;
Humans;
Liver;
Liver Diseases;
Medical Records;
Retrospective Studies;
Virus Replication
- From:Gut and Liver
2008;2(3):166-173
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Subcellular localization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) is known to be related to the activity of liver disease and the level of HBV replication. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between histologic activity, viral replication, and the intracellular distributions of HBcAg and HBsAg. METHODS: We enrolled 670 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy at Bundang CHA hospital between 1997 to 2007. The data from medical records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The stage of fibrosis was higher (3.31+/-1.34 vs. 2.43+/-1.39, mean+/-SD, p<0.01) and the grade of necroinflammatory activity was higher (9.39+/-3.11 vs. 6.13+/-3.40, p<0.001) for the cytoplasmic expression of HBcAg (cHBcAg) than for the nuclear expression of HBcAg (nHBcAg). The serum HBV DNA level was 677.30+/-983.14 pg/mL in cHBcAg, 1274.46+/-1417.28 pg/mL in nHBcAg, 1121.01+/-1121.0 pg/mL in c-nHBcAg, and 229.47+/-678.92 pg/mL in negative (p<0.001). HBeAg was seropositive in 74.7% of patients with cHBcAg, 90.6% in those with nHBcAg, 90.3% in those with n-cHBcAg, and 55.6% in those with negative (p<0.001). The histologic stage and grade of hepatitis were not significantly correlated with the subcellular localization of intrahepatic HBsAg (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the histologic activity of hepatitis is higher and viral replication is lower in cHBcAg positive patients than in those with nHBcAg.
