We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Hepatitis B virus core-related antigen as a surrogate marker for covalently closed circular DNA.
- Authors
Wong, Danny Ka ‐ Ho; Seto, Wai ‐ Kay; Cheung, Ka ‐ Shing; Chong, Chun ‐ Kong; Huang, Fung ‐ Yu; Fung, James; Lai, Ching ‐ Lung; Yuen, Man ‐ Fung
- Abstract
Background & Aims Hepatitis B virus ( HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (ccc DNA) is a key to viral persistence in chronic hepatitis B infection. Serum hepatitis B core-related antigen ( HBcrAg) is a novel marker for HBV disease. We aimed to determine whether HBcrAg could be a surrogate marker for intrahepatic ccc DNA. Methods Three hundred and five liver biopsies and the corresponding sera collected from 138 nucleos(t)ide analogues-treated patients were analysed. 124 patients had paired liver biopsies at baseline and 1-year post-treatment, and 43 patients had a third biopsy after 6-12 years of treatment. Serum HBcrAg, HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen ( HBsAg), and intrahepatic HBV DNA and ccc DNA were measured. Results HBcrAg strongly correlated with ccc DNA ( r=.70), intrahepatic total HBV DNA ( r=.67) and serum HBV DNA ( r=.69; all P<.0001). In the 130 samples with undetectable serum HBV DNA, HBcrAg was detectable in 101 (78%) samples, and HBcrAg levels still correlated positively with ccc DNA ( r=.42, P<.0001). At ≥6 years of therapy, the median logarithmic reduction in HBcrAg was 2.7 log kU/mL, which was comparable to the magnitude of reduction in ccc DNA. Twenty-one patients had undetectable ccc DNA after ≥6 years of treatment, in whom 15 (71%) had detectable HBcrAg (range: 1.2-537 kU/mL). Conclusions Serum HBcrAg is a reliable surrogate marker for intrahepatic ccc DNA. HBcrAg could be a very sensitive marker to reflect the ccc DNA content and persistence of disease even with the ccc DNA levels below the detection limit of assays.
- Subjects
HEPATITIS B treatment; CIRCULAR DNA; BIOMARKERS; LIVER biopsy; CELL surface antigens
- Publication
Liver International, 2017, Vol 37, Issue 7, p995
- ISSN
1478-3223
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/liv.13346