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Correlation between viral load and liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels during the course and the progression to cirrhosis with chronic hepatitis B. A total of 239 chronic hepatitis B patients confirmed by liver biopsy between 2001 and 2007 were followed up for a median of 28 months. Compared with the patients without cirrhosis, the patients progressed to cirrhosis were older and with higher HBV-DNA levels at end point. However, there was no significant difference in cirrhosis progression between different HBV-DNA groups at baseline (P = 0.531). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed higher HBV-DNA level at endpoint had increasing risk of cirrhosis (P = 0.019). The results of Cox model indicated that HBV-DNA levels at endpoint, stage of fibrosis, negative hepatitis B e antigen, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase at baseline were independent risk factors of cirrhosis. The relative risk ratios were 1.898, 1.918, 8.976, and 1.006, respectively. Progression to cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients is correlated with HBV-DNA levels during follow-up.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhong Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China

    Lili Liu, Jiyao Wang & Weimin She

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  1. Lili Liu
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  2. Jiyao Wang
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Correspondence to Jiyao Wang.

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Liu, L., Wang, J. & She, W. Correlation between viral load and liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients. Front. Med. China 3, 271–276 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-009-0054-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-009-0054-1

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