VIRAL HEPATIT DERGISI-VIRAL HEPATITIS JOURNAL, cilt.17, sa.2, ss.57-61, 2011 (ESCI)
In the present study, we planned to evaluate the association between serum alanin aminotransferaz (ALT) levels, age, gender, and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic markers of the patients whose HBV DNA levels were 10(4) copy/mL and higher. HBV DNA was quantitatively detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serologic markers by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Of the 322 sera which were tested for HBV DNA and HBV serology, 136 (42.2%) patients had HBV DNA levels between 10(4)-10(7) copy/mL and 186 (57.8%) had HBV DNA levels higher than 10(7) copy/mL. ALT levels were more than two times the upper limit of normal in 131 (40.6%) patients and less than two times the upper limit of normal in 191 (59.4%) patients. Of the patients, 96 (29.8%) were HBeAg positive and 266 (70.2%) were HBeAg negative. Of the study population, 63.7% of the patients were males and 36.3% of the patients were females. When the patients were evaluated according to the age distribution, the largest rate of the patients (51.8%) was within the range of 21-40 years. HBV DNA levels, HBV serology, liver enzymes and the clinical findings should be considered together during the diagnosis, treatment and the follow-up of the patients with HBV infection.