Evaluation of HBsAg Quantification as Surrogate to HBV DNA Viral Load in Hepatitis B Infected Patients in Anambra State, Nigeria ()
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 naïve 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 < 0.001).
However, the Receiver Operation Characteristics curve indicated a very poor
performance characteristics (AUC = 0.537, p = 0.002). The non-treatment
group has higher viral load (M = 805.50 IU/ml) compared with treatment
group (M = 65.50 IU/ml) (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in
HBV DNA levels among the four serological patterns observed in the study (p
< 0.001). This study has revealed that HBsAg quantification has strong correlation
with 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.
Share and Cite:
Obiomah, C. , Amilo, G. and Ndulue, I. (2020) Evaluation of HBsAg Quantification as Surrogate to HBV DNA Viral Load in Hepatitis B Infected Patients in Anambra State, Nigeria.
American Journal of Molecular Biology,
10, 129-140. doi:
10.4236/ajmb.2020.103009.