중합효소연쇄반응법에 의한 B형 간염바이러스 DNA 검출과 혈청학적 지표의 비교 검토

Abstract

Background : Serologic assays for the detection of markers for hepatitis B viral infection have been used routinely in the clinical laboratories since the early 1970\'s. Negative results with these tests delineate classically a group of viral hepatitis defined as non-A, non-B hepatitis. However, some observations suggest that this group might include HBV or HBV-related viruses. We thus compared the results of Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) for the detection of hepatitis B virus DNA(HBV-DNA) with the status of serologic markers. Methods : We analyzed the data from 118 patients referred for the evaluation of serologic markers and HBV-DNA by PCR, over a period from April, 1991 to March, 1994. Serologic markers including HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb, HBeAg, and HBeAb were performed with the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : Serum HBV-DNA by PCR was detected in 77% of HBsAg-positive cases as well as in 20% of HBsAg-negative patients. Not only the most patients(91%) with HBsAg and HBeAg positivity, but also, some HBsAg-positive patients(47%) with seroconversion(HBeAg negative and HBeAb-positive) were found to have HBV-DNA. In 6 cases with positivity only for HBcAb, 2 cases(33%) were found to have HBV-DNA. There was no significant correlation between ALT levels and HBVPCR results among 125 HBsAg-positive cases (P>0.1). Conclusion : The PCR assay seems to be potentially a valuable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of variable serologic status and may help to assess the condition of patients related with HBV infection.