Evaluation of HBsAg Quantification as Surrogate to HBV DNA Viral Load in Hepatitis B Infected Patients in Anambra State, Nigeria

Chinwe Obiomah,Israel Ndulue,Grace Amilo

doi:10.4236/ajmb.2020.103009

Abstract

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease of great public health importance. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest incidence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection worldwide. However, the accessibility and affordability of HBV DNA quantification (viral load) assay is the key laboratory test for therapy initiation, and monitoring is a challenge to HBV management. This study aimed at determining the relationship between HBV DNA quantification and routine haemato-serological parameters in order to develop a more cost-effective diagnostic algorithm for Hepatitis B management. Cross sectional study design was used with a total of 264 subjects comprising of 88 HBsAg seropositive treatment na&#239ve subjects, 88 HBsAg seropositive subjects on antiviral therapy as case subjects and 88 age-matched apparently healthy HBsAg seronegative individuals were recruited as control subjects. Hepatitis B Virus DNA assay was performed using real time PCR technique while ELISA technique was used for Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification. HBsAg quantification showed strong positive correlation with HBV DNA viral load both in treatment and non-treatment groups (r = 0.673; p

Highlights

Hepatis B is a top health priority worldwide and a devastating cause of morbidity and mortality [1]
Hepatitis B Virus DNA assay was performed using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique while ELISA technique was used for Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification
This study has revealed that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) quantification has strong correlation with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) viral load but might not be efficient in clinical practice as a predictor of serum HBV viral load due to its poor performance characteristics in identifying high positive viral load

Summary

Introduction

Hepatis B is a top health priority worldwide and a devastating cause of morbidity and mortality [1]. Hepatitis B is an infectious disease of great public health importance caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is an enveloped DNA virus that infects the liver and causes hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation [2]. This virus belongs to the family hepadnaviridae and genus orthohepadnavirus and it is the only hepadnavirus that causes infection in humans [3]. It is 100 times more infectious than the most dreaded human immunodeficiency virus infection and 10 times more infectious than hepatitis C virus [4]. It is estimated that HBV and HCV are the root cause of about 80% of all hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) by promoting cirrhosis which significantly reduced the life expectancy of the infected patients [5]

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Conclusion