CORRELATION BETWEEN INTRAHEPATIC cccDNA AND SERUM HBV pgRNA IN TREATMENT-NAÏVE CHRONIC HEPATITIS B PATIENTS

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and serum HBV pregenomic Ribo nucleic acid (pgRNA) in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods: A total of 105 treatment-naïve CHB patients from the Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, were enrolled from 2017 to 2020. Real-time RT-PCR methods were used to quantify serum HBV pgRNA and intrahepatic cccDNA. Clinical and histopathological assessments were also performed. The patients were categorized into two groups: HBeAg-positive CHB (n = 59) and HBeAg-negative CHB (n = 46). Statistical analyses were conducted using Medcalc 20.019. Results: In treatment-naïve patients, the average concentration of cccDNA and HBV RNA were 1.61 ± 0.40 log10 copies/cell and 4.88 ± 1.65 log10 copies/mL, respectively. A positive linear correlation was observed between HBV pgRNA and cccDNA, especially in the overall group and the HBeAg-negative subgroup, as well as in patients with HAI score ≥ 9 and Fibrosis score ≥ 3 (r = 0.49, r = 0.56, and r = 0.57; p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The study findings indicate a positive linear correlation between intrahepatic cccDNA and serum HBV pgRNA in CHB patients. HBV pgRNA can serve as a reliable marker in the management of CHB patients.