The impact of HBeAg status on HBV RNA in chronic hepatitis B patients undergoing treatment

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the correlation between hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) status and hepatitis B viral (HBV) RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) whose HBV DNA is below the lower limit of monitoring. Methods From January 2023 to December 2023, one hundred and fifty CHB patients were admitted to the Third People′s Hospital of Kunming, including 110 males (73.33%) and 40 females (26.67%). These patients were all treated and achieved HBV DNA<100 IU/mL. They were divided into a positive and a negative groups based on the status of HBeAg, with 28 cases (18.67%) in the HBeAg positive group and 122 cases (81.33%) in the HBeAg negative group. The correlation of HBV RNA between the two groups.were compared. Results The results showed that there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in the levels of HBV RNA (Z=-6.095), HBsAg (Z=-4.169), and anti-HBe (Z=-3.995) between the two groups of patients. Whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine amintransferase (ALT), platelets count (PLT), anti-HBc, and liver hardness. Subsequently, Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis was performed and the result revealed that HBV RNA was associated with HBsAg (r=0.002, P<0.005) and HBeAg (r=0.000, P<0.005) in the HBeAg positive group. In the HBeAg negative group, HBV RNA was associated with HBsAg (r=0.000, P<0.005), and anti-HBc (r=0.024, P<0.005). Conclusion In the HBeAg positive group, HBV RNA is significantly positively correlated with HBsAg and HBeAg in patients with CHB who have undergone treatment, indicating there existed active viral transcription; In the HBeAg negative group, HBV RNA was positively correlated with HBsAg and anti-HBc, indicating that viral transcription was inhibited. For CHB patients undergoing treatment, the status of HBeAg can affect their HBV RNA levels. Patients in the HBeAg positive group have higher HBV RNA levels than those in the HBeAg negative group, indicating an higher viral transcriptional activity.

Key words: Hepatitis B virus, HBV RNA, HBeAg

MU Huan, ZHANG Ying-yuan, XU Dan-qing, MOU Chun-yan, LI Wen-yan, CHANG Li-xian, LIU Li, LIU Chun-yun, HE Yu-xiao. The impact of HBeAg status on HBV RNA in chronic hepatitis B patients undergoing treatment[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2026, 31(4): 482-485.

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