Correlation between serum quantitative HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in chronic hepatitis B patients

Background/Aim. Quantitative hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (qHBsAg) has become increasingly wide-spread in the last few years in both diagnostic and therapeu-tic protocols for HBV infection. Numerous studies have proposed it as a surrogate marker for covalently closed cir-cular DNA (cccDNA). The aim of the study was to deter-mine the correlation between qHBsAg and HBV DNA vi-remia in untreated patients. Methods. The study included 112 untreated patients diagnosed with chronic HBV infec-tion. Demographic and other data from medical records and laboratory analyses, taken as part of routine chronic HBV infection diagnosis with the determination of qHBsAg and HBV DNA viremia, were recorded for all patients. Results. The average age of the patients included in the study was 48.27 & PLUSMN; 15.14 years; males (58%) were more represented. qHBsAg levels had a high-intensity positive correlation with HBV DNA viremia. The concentration of qHBsAg, HBV DNA viremia, and the concentrations of alanine ami-notransferase and aspartate aminotransferase showed statis-tically significantly higher values in HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-positive than in HBeAg-negative patients. Con-clusion. Our study showed that qHBsAg has a high -intensity positive correlation with HBV DNA viremia. The use of qHBsAg is essential for determining the phase of chronic HBV infection, assessment of the success and length of treatment, as well as for safe discontinuation of antiviral therapy with a lower risk of relapse.