To determine the role of quantitative HBsAg levels in follow up of chronic HBV treatment and investigate the relationship between qHBsAg, HBV DNA levels and liver histopathology. 74 CHB patients with genotype D visited our Infectious Diseases outpatient clinic were included into the study. Patients were grouped according to treatment status; Group-I (patients new to treatment, 31 patients) and group-II (patients with long-term treatment history). All group-I patients had their serum HBsAg titers (qHBsAg) measured before treatment, at 3 and 6-month time periods after treatment. Group-II consisted of 43 CHB patients who had been on anti-viral treatment for at least 5 years. qHBsAg levels were measured and compared to that of patient in group II. Patients from group I were divided into two groups according to HBeAg positivity. The mean qHBsAg and HBVDNA levels and fibrosis scores were statistically higher (p=0.002, p =0.034, p=0.002) in HBeAg positive patients. For all patients in group-I, a positive correlation was found between qHBsAg and HBV DNA levels before treatment (p=0.003). Serum qHBsAg and HBVDNA levels that were measured before treatment, 3-month and 6-month after treatment were statistically different (p< 0.05) from each other. Group-II patients were classified according to YMDD mutations and virologic breakthrough during treatment. Serum qHBsAg levels of patients with YMDD mutations and virologic breakthrough were found to be statistically higher (p=0.010) than those who did not although these patients were receiving potent antivirals. Quantitative HBsAg levels may differ among chronic HBV patients according to their treatment protocols and duration. In patients who are new to treatment, HBeAg positive patients may have statistically higher levels of qHBsAg. Moreover, this difference was also observed when patient who are new to treatment were compared to those who had been under treatment for a longer time. For clinicians, qHBsAg levels should not be employed only in patients undergoing interferon therapy but also those undergoing antiviral therapy as well..
Key words: Chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis B surface antigen, genotype
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