乙型肝炎肝硬变患者外周血和肝组织中HBV cccDNA的定量检测

目的:研究乙型肝炎肝硬变患者HBV共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA)在肝组织和外周血中的分布及临床应用.方法:选取60例乙型肝炎肝硬变患者肝组织和外周血样本,外周血样本以不降解质粒的ATP依赖的DNA酶(PSAD)进行酶切,肝组织样本以限制性内切酶Mlu联合PSAD酶切.而后进行荧光定量PCR检测.结果:60例乙型肝炎肝硬变患者外周血HBVcccDNA均阴性,肝组织HBV cccDNA阳性24例(40.00%),在HBeAg( )组、HBeAg(-)HBeAb(-)组、HBeAb( )组分布分别为66.67%、52.94%和26.47%,定量结果在3组呈递减趋势,且HBeAg( )组与HBeAb( )组差异存在统计学意义(P＜0.05).肝组织HBV cccDNA占总HBVDNA 0%-7.77%.肝组织HBV cccDNA与肝组织总HBV DNA存在相关性(r=0.53,P＜0.01),与外周血总HBV DNA无相关性(r=0.18,P=0.18),与ALT、TBIL均无相关性(r=0.15,P=0.25;r=0.01.P=0.94).结论:乙型肝炎肝硬变患者外周血检测不到HBV cccDNA.肝组织HBV cccDNA占总HBVDNA比例较低,HBeAg( )患者病毒复制最为活跃.     

肝组织cccDNA水平与血清病毒学应答后治疗时间的关系

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者肝组织cccDNA水平与外周血HBV DNA<1000 拷贝/ml后继续治疗时间的关系.方法 分别采用荧光定量PCR、酶联免疫吸附分析法检测58例CHB患者肝组织HBV cccDNA水平、肝组织和血清HBV DNA载量、HBV标志物,分析肝组织HBV cccDNA水平、肝组织总HBV DNA水平、HBeAg血清学转换与血清病毒学应答后继续治疗时间的关系.组间比较采用Nemenyi法,相关分析采用Spearman法.结果 肝组织HBVcccDNA水平在血清HBV DNA两阳性组间尢明显差异,而阴性组明显低于阳性组(χ2=9.6948,P<0.01;χ2=9.2824,P<0.01).35例达到血清病毒学应答后行肝活组织检查的患者,肝组织cccDNA水平随继续治疗时间的延长而降低(χ2≥6.4674,P<0.05),肝组织cccDNA水平在抗-Hbe(+)组明显低于HBeAg(+)组、HBeAg(-)/抗-Hbe(-)组(χ2=10.7482,P<0.01;χ2=11.7549,P<0.01).14例肝组织cccDNA水平低十检测限的患者,有12例已经发生HBeAg血清学转换,占抗-Hbe(+)组的2/3,其在血清病毒学应答后继续治疗时间平均为35个月,发生HBeAg血清学转换后继续治疗时间平均为30个月.结论 当患者发生血清病毒学应答后,肝组织cccDNA水平随继续治疗时间延长而降低;继续治疗35个月以上且血清抗-Hbe持续(+)30个月以上时,有2/3的患者肝组织cccDNA定量低于检测限水平.     

抗病毒药物对肝组织乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA的影响

目的 探讨抗病毒药物对肝组织HBV共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA)的影响.方法 71例HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎患者分别接受48周的拉米夫定-干扰素序贯治疗、单用拉米夫定治疗和24周的干扰素治疗,随访24周.检测治疗前、后肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA水平;检测治疗前、后及停药24周时的血清HBV DNA和ALT水平.比较C、B基因型HBV感染患者肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA水平.结果 治疗结束时,序贯治疗、拉米夫定治疗和干扰素治疗组患者肝组织HBV DNA分别为(4.7±1.1)log10、(4.6±1.5)log10和(5.6±1.5)log10,均低于治疗前水平(P＜0.05);cccDNA分别为(3.4±1.3)log10、(3.8±1.1)log10和(5.0±1.5)log10,均低于治疗前水平(P＜0.05).17例患者出现了HBeAg血清学转换,其肝组织cccDNA下降幅度明显大于HBeAg阳性患者(3.0 log10比1.6 log10,P＜0.05).停药24周,18例患者获得持续病毒学应答,其cccDNA基线值明显低于停药后出现病毒反跳患者(P＜0.05).肝组织cccDNA的变化与肝组织HBV DNA的改变正相关(P＜0.05);治疗结束时,肝组织cccDNA水平与血清HBeAg滴度正相关(P＜0.01).C基因型与B基因型HBV感染患者治疗前、后肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA的变化无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 48周的拉米夫定-干扰素序贯治疗和拉米夫定治疗对肝组织cccDNA抑制作用强于24周的干扰素治疗.肝组织cccDNA低水平患者易获得较好的抗病毒疗效.HBV基因型对肝组织cccDNA含量无明显影响.     

54例慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA与血清HBsAg定量检测结果分析

目的 检测慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织HBV共价闭合环状DNA (cccDNA)和血清HBsAg,分析两种定量指标之间及其与血清HBV DNA载量的相关性.方法 应用PSAD消化+滚环扩增+跨缺口实时荧光PCR方法,定量检测54例慢性乙型肝炎患者甲醛固定石蜡包埋肝组织HBV cccDNA水平;用化学发光试剂定量检测患者血清HBsAg.用Pearson检验及直线回归分析方法 对数据进行分析.结果 患者肝组织HBV cccDNA与血清HBsAg定量水平之间呈正相关(r=0.459,P＜0.01),但与血清HBV DNA载量相关性无统计学意义;血清HBsAg定量水平与血清HBV DNA载量呈正相关(r=0.328,P＜ 0.05),与病毒复制效率呈负相关(r=-0.373,P＜0.05).结论 慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织HBV cccDNA载量与血清HBsAg定量水平相关,结合血清HBVDNA定量检测,可以更全面的反映HBV的复制水平,评价抗病毒疗效.     

慢性HBV感染者肝脏HBV cccDNA含量相关因素分析

目的探讨慢性HBV感染者肝组织中HBV cccDNA含量与血清病毒标志物、HBV DNA及肝脏病理分级的关系,为临床评价抗病毒治疗效果及疗程确定提供理论依据。方法以2007年5月-2008年2月住院的30例慢性HBV感染者为研究对象,应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）方法检测患者肝组织中HBV cccDNA、肝组织总HBV DNA（HBV tDNA）和血清HBVDNA,同时用化学发光免疫分析法检测HBsAg、HBeAg定量,分析感染者肝组织内HBV cccDNA与肝组织内HBV DNA、血清HBVDNA、HBsAg及HBeAg定量水平之间的关系,并比较肝组织中HBV cccDNA含量与肝脏病理炎症和纤维化分级的关系。采用Pear-son简单相关和Spearman等级相关法进行相关性分析。结果 30例慢性HBV感染者肝组织中均可检出HBV cccDNA,范围在3.15×103～1.06×107拷贝/mg;肝组织cccDNA定量与肝组织总HBV DNA定量呈正相关（r=0.375,P〈0.05）,与血清HBV DNA无相关性（r=0.174,P〉0.05）;肝组织中HBV cccDNA水平与血清HBsAg定量呈高度正相关（r=0.562,P〈0.001）,而与血清HBeAg定量无相关性（r=0.152,P〉0.05）。肝组织cccDNA定量与肝组织炎症活动度（G）及纤维化程度（S）无相关性（r=0.082,P〉0.05）。结论慢性HBV感染者肝组织内HBV cccDNA成稳定的中等水平复制;血清HBV DNA载量不能直接代表其肝组织中的HBV cccDNA水平;血清HBsAg定量可作为反映肝组织中HBV cccDNA水平的指标。     

乙型肝炎患者血清中乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA的检测

目的 检测不同肝脏病变程度的乙型肝炎患者外周血中的HBV共价闭合环状DNA(HBV cccDNA),评价其相关的影响因素和临床意义.方法 共观察57例乙型肝炎患者,其中轻度慢性乙型肝炎患者26例,重型乙型肝炎患者31例.患者入院后行PT、肝功能、肝炎病毒血清标志物等常规检测,并进行总HBV DNA和HBV cccDNA检测.Logistic逐步回归分析影响血清HBVcecDNA检出率的相关因素.结果重型乙型肝炎组13份血清标本HBV cccDNA为阳性,轻度慢性乙型肝炎组仅1份血清标本HBV cccDNA为阳性,血清HBV cccDNA的含量为1.25×103～4.88×104拷贝/mL,两组患者血清HBV cccDNA检出率差异有统计学意义(P=0.0014).血清HBV cccDNA检测诊断重型乙型肝炎患者的灵敏度和特异度分别为41.94%和96.15%.Logistic逐步回归分析显示,血清HBV ccvDNA的检出率与PT有关(X<'2>=7.2192,P=0.0072),而与患者的年龄、性别、血清总HBV DNA、TBil和ALT水平无相关性.结论 部分乙型肝炎患者特别是重型肝炎患者外周血中可以检测出HBV cccDNA,血清HBV cccDNA的检出可作为支持重型乙型肝炎诊断的指标之一.     

乙型肝炎病毒cccDNA定量与乙型肝炎临床及病理关系

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）肝组织HBVcccDNA定量与乙型肝炎的关系。方法分别采用荧光定量PCR、酶联免疫吸附分析法（ELISA）检测48例CHB肝组织HBVcccDNA定量、肝组织和血清HB VDNA定量、乙型肝炎病毒标志物。同时用链霉菌抗生素蛋白-过氧化物酶连接法（SP）检测肝细胞中HBcAg表达。分析肝组织HBVcccDNA与组织和血清HBV DNA、HBeAg、肝细胞内HBcAg水平及肝脏炎症活动度的关系.结果1．肝组织HBVcccDNA定量与组织和血清HBV DNA定量呈正相关（r=0．837，P〈0．001；r=0．627，P〈0．005）；2．肝组织HBV cccDNA定量与肝细胞内HBcAg半定量呈正相关（r=0．618，P〈0．005）；3．肝组织HBV cccDNA定量与肝脏炎症活动度尤明显相关（P〉0．05）：4．HBeAg阳性较抗-HBe阳性患者肝组织HBV cccDNA定量、肝组织和血清HBV DNA定量高（P〈0．05）。结论荧光定量PCR法检测肝组织HBV cccDNA定量是评价HBV复制最直接可靠的指标，在CHB的诊断和抗病毒治疗中有重要意义。但与肝组织炎症无明显相关。     

血清HBsAg和HBeAg水平变化与慢性乙型肝炎患者抗病毒疗效预测

血清HBsAg或HBeAg定量水平的变化在慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者抗病毒治疗的应答中有重要预测价值,可以用于指导和调整治疗方案。本文综述了CHB患者血清HBsAg和HBeAg水平变化与HBV复制指标如血清HBV DNA和肝内HBV cccDNA间的关系,以阐明CHB患者血清HBsAg或HBeAg水平在判定抗病毒疗效方面的新认识。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清、肝内HBV DNA定量及肝组织HBV DNA载量与肝组织损害程度的关系

目的 了解慢性乙型肝炎患者血清、肝内HBV DNA定量及肝组织HBV DNA载量与肝组织损害程度的关系.方法 经血清学及肝穿刺病理证实为慢性乙型肝炎患者38例,分为2组(HBeAg阳性组及HBeAg阴性组).采用ELISA法测定HBV-M、实时荧光定量检测血清及肝内HBV DNA定量、肝组织HBV DNA载量.结果 HBeAg阳性组血清、肝内HBV DNA定量及肝组织HBV DNA载量均高于HBeAg阴性组(P均<0.001);血清HBV DNA定量随肝脏纤维化程度加重而升高(P<0.01),但与肝脏炎症程度未见明显相关;肝组织HBV DNA载量则随肝脏炎症及纤维化程度加重而降低(P<0.001).结论 血清HBV DNA定量与肝组织纤维化程度呈正相关,肝组织HBV DNA载量则与肝组织的炎症及纤维化程度呈明显负相关.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织HBV cccDNA、总HBV DNA与血清HBV DNA的相关性及其与临床的关系

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织HBV共价闭合环状DNA（cccDNA）、肝组织总HBV DNA（HBV tDNA）与血清HBV DNA之间的相关性及其与临床的关系。方法 78例慢性乙型肝炎患者入选本研究。肝组织β- globinDNA、HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测,平均每个肝细胞HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA含量（拷贝/cell）=HBV cccDNA（实测值）/β-globin DNA（实测值）和HBV tDNA（实测值）/β3-globin DNA（实测值）,肝组织HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA含量的计算单位定义为log₁₀拷贝/10⁶cell;采用实时荧光定量PCR、ELISA法检测血清HBVDNA和HBV标志物;采用免疫组织化学方法检测肝细胞中HBsAg和HBcAg的表达。统计分析采用pearson相关分析及t检验。结果 （1）肝组织HBV cccDNA与HBV tDNA定量呈正相关（r=0.696,P<0.001）;肝组织HBV cccDNA与血清HBV DNA定量呈正相关（r=0.304,P<0.01）;肝组织HBV tDNA与血清HBV DNA定量呈正相关（r=0.341,P<0.01）;（2）肝细胞内HBcAg定性检测阳性患者的血清HBV DNA定量明显高于阴性患者,且差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;肝细胞内HBcAg定性检测阳性患者与阴性患者的肝组织HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA定量差异均无统计学意义和（P均>0.05）;（3）肝细胞内HBsAg定性检测阳性患者的血清HBV DNA定量明显高于阴性患者,且差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;肝细胞内HBsAg定性检测阳性患者与阴性患者的肝组织HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA定量差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）;（4）HBeAg（+）/抗-HBe（-）患者血清HBV DNA定量明显高于HBeAg（-）/抗-HBe（+）患者,且差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;HBeAg（+）/抗-HBe（-）患者肝组织HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA定量与HBeAg（-）/抗-HBe（+）患者比较差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）;（5）肝组织HBV cccDNA、HBV tDNA以及血清HBV DNA三者与肝脏炎症活动度及纤维化程度均无显著相关性（P>0.05）。结论 （1）血清HBV DNA定量结果并不一定能完全反映患者肝组织中HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA含量,尤其在血清HBV DNA<500拷贝/mL时,肝组织中仍存在HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA,且含量大小不等。（2）肝细胞内HBcAg定性检测阳性或者HBsAg定性检测阳性患者的血清HBV DNA定量均明显高于阴性患者;而两者的肝组织HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA定量均没有显著差异;（3）HBeAg（+）/抗-HBe（-）患者血清HBV DNA定量明显高于HBeAg（-）/抗-HBe（+）患者,而两者的肝组织HBV cccDNA和HBV tDNA均没有显著差异;（4）肝组织HBV cccDNA、HBV tDNA及血清HBV DNA与肝脏炎症活动度和纤维化程度均无显著相关性。     

Quantitation of covalently closed circular hepatitis B virus DNA in chronic hepatitis B patients

This study examined a signal amplification assay, the Invader assay, for the quantitation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in liver biopsies and sera. DNA was extracted from liver biopsy and serum samples were collected from 16 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 36 antibody-to-HBeAg-positive (anti-HBe-positive) chronic hepatitis B patients. The amount of total HBV DNA and cccDNA was measured using the Invader assay. Anti-HBe-positive patients had lower median total intrahepatic HBV DNA (P < .001) and intrahepatic cccDNA levels (P = .001) than HBeAg-positive patients. Intrahepatic cccDNA correlated positively with the total intrahepatic HBV DNA (r = 0.950, P < .001). However, the proportion of intrahepatic HBV DNA in the form of cccDNA was inversely related to the amount of total intrahepatic HBV DNA (r = -0.822, P < .001). A small amount of cccDNA was detected in 39 of 52 (75%) serum samples. Anti-HBe-positive patients had lower median serum cccDNA levels than HBeAg-positive patients (P = .002). Serum HBV DNA correlated positively with intrahepatic total HBV DNA (r = 0.778, P < .001) and intrahepatic cccDNA (r = 0.481, P = .002). In conclusion, the Invader assay is a reliable assay for the quantitation of cccDNA. Serum and intrahepatic total HBV DNA and cccDNA levels become lower as the disease progresses from HBeAg-positive to anti-HBe-positive phase, with cccDNA becoming the predominant form of intrahepatic HBV DNA.     

Persistence of cccDNA during the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and decline during adefovir dipivoxil therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a unique episomal replicative intermediate responsible for persistent infection of hepatocytes. Technical constraints have hampered the direct study of cccDNA maintenance and clearance mechanisms in patients. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific assay for quantifying cccDNA in biopsy samples from chronic hepatitis B patients during different natural history phases and in patients undergoing antiviral therapy. METHODS: Intrahepatic cccDNA levels were quantified by a specific real-time PCR assay. Ninety-eight liver biopsy samples from patients in the major phases of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and 32 pairs of samples from patients receiving adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) therapy were assessed. RESULTS: cccDNA was detected, at levels ranging over 3 orders of magnitude, in patients in different phases of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B. cccDNA levels were strongly correlated with levels of total intracellular HBV DNA and serum HBV DNA. Forty-eight weeks of ADV therapy resulted in a significant 0.8 log decrease in cccDNA copies/cell. Changes in cccDNA were correlated with a similar reduction in serum HBsAg titer but not with a decrease in the number of HBV antigen-positive cells during ADV treatment.CONCLUSIONS: cccDNA persists throughout the natural history of chronic hepatitis B, even in patients with serologic evidence of viral clearance. Long-term ADV therapy significantly decreased cccDNA levels by a primarily noncytolytic mechanism.     

应用滚环扩增技术检测乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA的研究

目的 应用滚环扩增(RCA)技术检测HBV共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA),观察该方法的特异性和敏感性.方法 以HBV全基因质粒为模板,经酶切、连接、浓缩、胶回收纯化等步骤,构建和制备HBV cccDNA标准品.抽提7例慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织总DNA,进行滚环扩增.用HBV cccDNA标准品、3.2 kb线性HBV DNA、健康肝组织总DNA及15例慢性乙型肝炎患者血清总DNA作为对照,验证此方法的特异性.将HBV cccDNA标准品进行系列稀释,了解该方法的敏感性.结果 成功构建了HBV cccDNA,并可用RCA方法进行扩增.RCA方法可从2 mg的慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织中检测到HBV cccDNA,并可检测低至1×102拷贝/μL的HBV cccDNA.RCA方法不能检测3.2 kb线性HBV DNA,在健康肝组织及15例慢性乙型肝炎患者血清中亦检测不到HBV cccDNA.结论 RCA方法操作较方便,具有很高的特异性和敏感性.     

乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA套式-实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应的建立

目的 建立检测HBV共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA)的套式一实时荧光定量PCR法.方法 根据HBV cccDNA与松环DNA(rcDNA)结构上的差异,设计2对跨缺口的特异引物及1条位于负链缺口下游的特异TaqMan荧光探针.根据Plasmid-SafeTM ATP-Dependent Dnasc(PSAD)对rcDNA与cccDNA作用的不同,对模板DNA进行酶切纯化,降解reDNA,再进行套式PCR扩增,先用外引物和模板进行第一轮常规PCR,再用内引物、荧光探针和第一轮PCR产物进行实时荧光定量PCR,根据阳性参照标准品,得出待检标本定量值.结果 检测阳性参照标准品.得出该方法灵敏度可达2 lg拷贝/mL.用上述方法检测34份乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA阳性标本,25份血清HBVcccDNA阳性,28份外周血单个核细胞HBV cccDNA阳性.27份健康对照者血清HBV DNA阴性标本,6份HBV cccDNA阳性.对5份HBV cccDNA阳性标本扩增产物进行克隆测序,无碱基缺失、突变.与HBV不同基因型序列(A～G)比较,同源性为90.6%～99.1%,其中,与B、C基因型同源性为95.3%～99.1%,验证了方法的特异度.结论 套式-实时定量PCR法可检测乙型肝炎患者血清、PBMC中的HBV CCCDNA,且具有敏感、特异性.     

乙型肝炎病毒核心相关抗原的监测及临床意义

监测乙型肝炎病毒核心相关抗原(HBcrAg),能有效预测核苷(酸)类药物抗病毒治疗后产生的病毒学反弹及耐药风险,具有重要的临床实用价值。     

Intracellular levels of hepatitis B virus DNA and pregenomic RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronically infected patients

Summary.  It remains uncertain whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) can be detected in the serum or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. We examined HBV cccDNA and pgRNA in the serum and PBMC, and investigated the effect of lamivudine therapy on the viral loads in the PBMC of CHB patients. Paired serum and PBMC samples from 50 treatment-naïve CHB patients [25 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive and 25 HBeAg negative] were quantified for total HBV DNA, cccDNA and pgRNA by real time polymerase chain reaction. HBV cccDNA and pgRNA were below the lower detection limit in all serum samples, and in 84% of PBMC. HBV DNA ( r  = 0.889, P  <   0.001) and pgRNA ( r  = 0.696, P  <   0.001) in PBMC correlated with the HBV DNA in serum. In the longitudinal study, 30 patients treated with lamivudine therapy for a median duration of 34 weeks (range 12–48 weeks) were examined. The median HBV DNA reduction in PBMC before and after treatment was 1.318 (range −0.471 to 3.846) log units, which was significantly lower than serum HBV DNA reduction [3.371 (range −0.883 to 9.454) log units, P  <   0.05]. HBV cccDNA and pgRNA were undetectable in the serum of CHB patients. HBV viral loads in PBMC correlated with serum HBV DNA. Lamivudine therapy had less effect on the HBV viral loads in PBMC compared with the serum viral loads.     

Intrahepatic hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA can be a predictor of sustained response to therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aimed to determine whether intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA and total HBV DNA levels at the end of therapy would predict sustained response to therapy. METHODS: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving either lamivudine monotherapy or combination of peginterferon and lamivudine had liver biopsy at the end of 1 year therapy and were followed for 52 more weeks after cessation of therapy. Serum HBV DNA, intrahepatic HBV ccc DNA, and total HBV DNA levels were determined. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients, including 34 males and 13 females, were studied. Twenty-seven patients received combination therapy, and 20 patients received lamivudine monotherapy. Twenty-nine patients had end-of-treatment virologic response, and 15 patients had sustained response 52 weeks after therapy. At the end of treatment, log serum HBV DNA levels correlated well with log intrahepatic HBV cccDNA and log intrahepatic total HBV DNA levels. Log intrahepatic cccDNA and log intrahepatic total DNA levels were significantly lower among patients with sustained virologic response. The adjusted odds ratio for log cccDNA was 5.3 (95% CI: 1.5-18.2, P = .009) and, for log intrahepatic HBV DNA, was 4.4 (95% CI: 1.3-14.7, P = .015) to predict sustained virologic response. Using log cccDNA at -0.80 copies/genome equivalent as cutoff, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of predicting sustained virologic response were 73%, 78%, 56%, 86%, and 77% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intrahepatic HBV cccDNA and intrahepatic total HBV DNA levels at the end of therapy are superior to serum HBV DNA as surrogates of sustained virologic response.