Associations of Expressions of HBcAg and HBsAg with the Histologic Activity of Liver Disease and Viral Replication

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Subcellular localization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) is known to be related to the activity of liver disease and the level of HBV replication. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between histologic activity, viral replication, and the intracellular distributions of HBcAg and HBsAg. METHODS: We enrolled 670 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy at Bundang CHA hospital between 1997 to 2007. The data from medical records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The stage of fibrosis was higher (3.31+/-1.34 vs. 2.43+/-1.39, mean+/-SD, p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the histologic activity of hepatitis is higher and viral replication is lower in cHBcAg positive patients than in those with nHBcAg.