Comparative study of HBV DNA levels in HBeAg positive and negative female patients suffering from chronic hepatitis b in child bearing age.

To compare HBV DNA values in HBeAg positive and negative female patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B of child bearing age. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Hospitals attached to Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar after taking ethical approval from the institution’s ethical board. Period: October 2014 to March 2015. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 100 chronic hepatitis B females of child bearing age. Quantitative HBeAg was done by ELISA and HBV DNA values were estimated by PCR. The data obtained was statistically analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 and statistical significance between the variables was calculated using Fisher’s exact test. Results: The mean age of the sample was 28.69±6.83 years. A positive correlation (p=0.000) was found in HBeAg positive status and younger age group females (17-30). 84 cases were HBeAg negative but 42/84 had high levels of circulating Hepatitis B virus (2000 IU/ml). Conclusion: The present study established a positive association between HBeAg positive status and high HBV DNA values. However a statistically positive association was observed between HBeAg negative patients and high HBV DNA values (HBV DNA ≥2000IU/ml).   Objective: To compare HBV DNA values in HBeAg positive and negative female patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B of child bearing age.   Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted from October 2014 to March 2015 in Hospitals attached to Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar after taking ethical approval from the institution’s ethical board. Blood samples were collected from 100 chronic hepatitis B females of child bearing age. Quantitative HBeAg was done by ELISA and HBV DNA values were estimated by PCR. The data obtained was statistically analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 and statistical significance between the variables was calculated using Fisher’s exact test.   Results: The mean age of the sample was 28.69±6.83 years. A positive correlation (p=0.000) was found in HBeAg positive status and younger age group females (17-30). 84 cases were HBeAg negative but 42/84 had high levels of circulating Hepatitis B virus (2000 IU/ml).   Conclusion: The present study established a positive association between HBeAg positive status and high HBV DNA values. However a statistically positive association was observed between HBeAg negative patients and high HBV DNA values (HBV DNA ≥2000IU/ml).   Key Words: Hepatitis B virus, HBeAg, HBV DNA