OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of HBV large protein (HBV-LP) in diagnosing viral replication, we detected the HBV-LP, HBV DNA and the hepatitis B viral markers (HBV M) in the serum of the patients infected with HBV.

METHODSHBV-LP and HBV M were analyzed by using ELISA. HBV-DNA was quantitatively detected using real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS(1) No significant difference between the detectable rate of HBV DNA and HBV-LP was found in the same HBV M (P 0.05). (2) No significant difference between the positive rate of HBV DNA and HBV-LP was found in HBeAg negative patients. (3) The contents of serum HBV-LP was positively correlated with the number of HBV DNA copies.

CONCLUSIONThere was a close correlation between the positive rate of HBV-LP and HBV DNA, and HBV-LP is a reliable serological marker that can reflect the replication of HBV.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Virus Replication