STUDIES OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS STATUS IN SERUM AND LIVER TISSUES IN HEPATITIS B PATIENTS
Serum and liver biopsies or autopsies of 30 hepatitis B patients were studied for HBV DNA status. By spot hybridization, it was found that 9/17 ( 52.94% ) of HBsAg ( + )/HBeAg( + ) patients were serum HBV DNA positive, whereas in 2/6(33.33% ) of HBsAg ( + )/Anti-HBe ( + )pati-ents, serum HBV DNA was also detected. Therefore it seems,to assay for serum infectivity, detection of HBV DNA is more direct and reliable than merely assay for HBeAg. DNA extracted from liver tissues were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis, Southern-blotted and then hybridized with HBV DNA probe, 27 were HBV DNA positive, All 27 samples showed free HBV DNA,starting around 3.2kb a smear was found which consists of various low molecular weight HBV DNA. In some samples two stronger hybridization bands were found at 2.3 kb and 0.8 kb. The specificity of the bands was checked by hybridization with pBR 322 probe, and 5/27 definitely showed high molecular weight hybridization bands with HBV DNA probe, which suggests HBV DNA integration. There was no uniquei ntegration site. It was emphasized that patients with HBV DNA integration should be followed carefully.