Objective To investigate the correlation of HBV DNA load with liver pathology,liver function,and serological markers of liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B( CHB). Methods A total of 79 children with a confirmed diagnosis of CHB who were admitted to Liver Research Center of Children's Hospital of Hunan Province from July 2010 to June 2015 were selected,and according to the serum HBV DNA load,they were divided into low load group( 103< HBV DNA load≤105copies / ml,n = 8),medium load group( 105< HBV DNA load ≤107copies / ml,n = 54),and high load group( HBV DNA load > 107 copies / ml,n = 17). The degree of liver pathological changes and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase( ALT),aspartate aminotransferase( AST),procollagen type Ⅲ( PC Ⅲ),laminin( LN),hyaluronic acid( HA),and type Ⅳ collagen( Ⅳ- C) were compared between the groups. The Kruskal- Wallis rank sum test was applied for comparison of continuous data between groups,and Kendall's tau- b rank correlation analysis was applied for correlation analysis. Results The three groups mainly had a liver inflammation grade of G1,which accounted for 75%,74. 1%,and 64. 7%,respectively,and the high load group had an increased proportion of G2 patients( 35. 5%). The three groups mainly had a fibrosis stage of S1,which accounted for 75. 0%,72. 2%,and 70. 6%,respectively,and there were S4 patients in the low load group( 12. 5%). HBV DNA load was not correlated with liver inflammation grade or fibrosis stage( r = 0. 069 and- 0. 047,both P > 0. 05). The medium load group had higher serum levels of ALT and AST than the low load group,and the high load group had higher serum levels of ALT and AST than the medium load group; serum ALT level showed a significant difference between the three groups( χ2= 5. 37,P = 0. 048). The medium load group had lower serum levels of HA,LN,PCⅢ,and Ⅳ- C than the low load group,and the high load group had lower serum levels of HA,LN,PCⅢ,and Ⅳ- C than the medium group; serum PCⅢ level showed a significant difference between the three groups( χ2= 6. 26,P = 0. 044).Conclusion In children with CHB,HBV DNA load is not significantly correlated with liver pathology. A comprehensive analysis of HBV DNA load,liver function,and serological markers of liver fibrosis in clinical practice in combination with liver biopsy can achieve an objective and accurate evaluation of the conditions of children with CHB.
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