Serum Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis B E Antigen Titers: Disease Phase Influences Correlation With Viral Load and Intrahepatic Hepatitis B Virus Markers

The correlation between quantitative HBsAg titer and serum and intrahepatic markers of HBV replication differs between patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB. HBeAg titers may fall independent of viral replication as HBeAg-defective variants emerge prior to HBeAg seroconversion. These findings provide new insights into viral pathogenesis and have practical implications for the use of quantitative serology as a clinical biomarker.