Investigation of The Importance of HBV RNA in The Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatitis B

Year 2026, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 25 - 32, 05.02.2026

Hatice Yıldız Beytekin , Selami Günal , Mehmet Köroğlu , Oğuz Karabay Hande Toptan

https://doi.org/10.71133/anatphar.1818580

Abstract

While Hepatitis B is a global health threat, its effects in our country are equally concerning. It causes serious health problems, loss of workforce, and economic burden; preliminary diagnosis and treatment are very essential. Recently, new markers have begun to be used. One of these is serum HBV RNA. The study sought to measure HBV RNA levels in hepatitis patients to determine progression of the disease, measure the effectiveness of antiviral treatment, safely terminate treatment and detect reactivations early. Our research involved 86 Hepatitis B patients attending Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. Plasma specimens from the patients were isolated and preserved at -20°C until the study was performed. Nucleic acid isolation was performed using a commercial kit and HBV RNA was investigated employing Real-time PCR method. Of the patients who were previously HBsAg/HBV DNA positive, 22 (68.8%) were positive and 10 (31.2%) were negative (p<0.05). In patients with HBsAg positivity and HBV DNA negativity, 4 (12.5%) were positive and 28 (87.5%) negative (p<0.05). In the HBsAg/HBV DNA negative group, 2 (9.1%) tested positive, and 20 (90.9%) tested negative (p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the HBsAG and HBV DNA positive or HBsAg positive-HBV DNA negative groups. However, significant results (p>0.05) were found in the HBsAg and HBV DNA negative group. Our result, which is similar to the literature, indicates that the HBV RNA test can be used as a complementary diagnostic procedure in the assessment and treatment of HBV infection.

Keywords

cccDNA , Hepatitis B , HBV RNA , real-time PCR

Supporting Institution

Inonu University Scientific Research Projects Unit

Project Number

TDK-2019-1926.

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