Figure 5.

A, The ratio between HBsAg and HBV DNA in serum correlated significantly with the proportion of linear intrahepatic HBV DNA (HBeAg-positive, filled triangles; HBeAg-negative, open triangles). The regression line, as well as the R² and Pearson correlation coefficient (P) values are based on values for all patients. B, The HBsAg levels in serum taken 5.6–11 years after the liver biopsy were lower in 4 HBeAg-negative patients with linear HBV DNA fractions below 40% than in the 40 other HBeAg-negative patients (P = .01, Mann-Whitney U test). Lines represent median. C, Linear regression and correlation between HBV DNA in serum and intrahepatic HBV DNA in the form of circular (black filled circles) and linear HBV DNA (open triangles) in liver biopsies. Abbreviations: HBeAg, hepatitis B e antigen; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HBV, hepatitis B virus P, Pearson correlation coefficient.