OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation of serum HBsAg, HBeAg contents and HBV-DNA load changes in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B during IFN-alpha treatment.

METHODSAfter enrolled, the patients were treated with 3MU-5MU IFN subcutaneous injection every two days, and their serum was collected before treatment and every 3 months during the treatment course. The serum HBV-DNA load was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method kit (lower detection limit 500 copies/ml, Piji company, Shenzhen city, China,) according to production instruction, and HBeAg and HBsAg contents were detected by ARCHITECH I 2000.chemiluminescent kit. The relation of serum HBV-DNA, HBeAg and HBsAg content was analyzed by SPSS statistic software.

RESULTSThere were 228 patients enrolled into this group, male 162 cases, female 66 cases, aged 14-60 years, average 30.94 years old. After IFN treatment the HBV-DNA, HBeAg and HBsAg levels were all gradually decreased. But there was no relation of HBsAg content to HBV DNA and HBeAg content before and during treatment course(P > 0.05). However the serum HBeAg content was related to HBV-DNA content significantly (P < 0.05) and their changes was correspondence.

CONCLUSIONBefore and during treatment of interferon, HBeAg and HBV-DNA content changes are closely related, while there is no significant correlation between HBsAg and HBeAg and HBV-DNA content. During interferon therapy, HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV-DNA contents should be detected together.