What Does the HBV DNA Quantification Value Mean?

Update Date: 2024-05-27 Source: Network

Hepatitis B and HBV-DNA Quantification

Hepatitis B is a highly contagious liver disease with no current cure, only controllable through medication. To understand the replication of the hepatitis B virus, various tests are necessary, including HBV-DNA testing. However, many people are unfamiliar with HBV-DNA quantitative values. So, what does HBV-DNA quantitative value mean? Let's take a look.

1. What is the meaning of HBV-DNA quantitative value?

HBV-DNA quantification is one of the hepatitis B testing items, which detects the amount of hepatitis B virus in the blood. The results of HBV-DNA quantitation are mainly used as a reference for antiviral treatment and efficacy. The results are numerical, not "high/low," "negative/positive," or "normal/abnormal." The normal value indicator depends on the reference range of the experiment, which varies due to different detection instruments, methods, and reagents. Therefore, the detection indicator can only represent an approximate range and cannot indicate liver damage, but reflects the number of virus DNA in the blood. The decrease of HBV-DNA quantitative detection indicators is of great significance in the treatment of hepatitis B, as it is a prelude to hepatitis B turning negative and a critical step in recovery. Only when the HBV-DNA quantitative indicator in the body decreases will the replication and reproduction of the virus stop, and there will be hope for complete cure of hepatitis B.

2. The significance of HBV-DNA quantitative testing

1. Correctly judging the level of infectivity: If HBsAg is positive in routine physical examination, HBV-DNA must be tested to determine the level of infectivity. If HBsAg is positive but HBV-DNA is negative, it basically indicates that the virus is not replicating and has weak infectivity.

2. Accurately judging the result of hepatitis B virus turning negative: It was previously believed that the conversion of hepatitis B big three positives to small three positives was a sign of improved condition and reduced infectivity, but this is not the case now. If the virus improves, HBV-DNA is generally negative, and liver function is completely normal; if it worsens, HBV-DNA remains positive, and liver function is repeatedly abnormal.

3. Evaluating the actual situation of hepatitis B virus carriers: If hepatitis B e-antigen and HBV-DNA are both negative in hepatitis B virus carriers, the prognosis is good, and generally no medication is required. If hepatitis B e-antigen and HBV-DNA are positive for a long time, the prognosis is poor, and generally, medication is required.

4. Evaluating the efficacy of drug treatment: Before treatment, viral quantitation can be used to select suitable drugs based on the level of the virus, and the effectiveness of antiviral treatment is judged by detecting HBV-DNA. To determine whether a certain drug is effective in treating hepatitis B, the first step is to observe its inhibitory effect on HBV-DNA. However, it should be noted that antiviral drugs cannot kill the hepatitis B virus but only inhibit its replication. Due to the presence of covalently closed circular DNA, even if HBV-DNA has turned negative, if antiviral drugs are stopped, there is still a possibility of rebound, i.e., HBV-DNA becoming positive again. Therefore, in the process of antiviral treatment, the decision to stop medication should not be based solely on HBV-DNA levels but should consider various factors comprehensively. Medication must be stopped under the guidance of a specialist, otherwise, it may lead to treatment failure or even worsening of the condition.