Correlation between serum HBV RNA and HBV DNA level, ALT activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B and HBV-related cirrhosis

To investigate correlations between serum HBV RNA and HBV DNA level, ALT activity in naive patients with chronic hepatitis B and HBV-related cirrhosis. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study involved 39 chronic hepatitis B and 19 cirrhosis patients, aged 19 - 78 years. Serum samples at admission were used to quantify HBV RNA, HBV DNA level and ALT activity. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used for correlations of HBV RNA and HBV DNA level, ALT activity. For HBV RNA quantification, a specific real-time PCR technique was used with a lower limit of detection of 100 copies/mL. Results: The HBV RNA and HBV DNA detection rate was 61.54% and 100% in chronic hepatitis B patients and 42.11% and 89.47% in cirrhosis cases, respectively. HBV RNA level and ALT activity in chronic hepatitis B patients were significantly higher than in cirrhosis cases (6.29 ± 1.42 log10 copies/mL vs 5.1 ± 1.58 log10 copies/mL, p < 0.05 and 571.04 ± 574.94 U/l vs. 88.92 ± 155.06 U/l, p < 0.001, respectively). No significant HBV DNA level difference was found between those.