Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection

Abstract Background Pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) has been utilized as an early predictive marker for antiviral therapy, an indicator for the emergence of drug resistance in hepatitis B virus (HBV), or a marker for safe discontinuation of nucleoside analog therapy. However, its role during pregnancy has ra...

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Main Authors: Genju Wang, Yandan Wu, Ziyue Zhang, Qiuchen Wu, Juan Tang, Ying Ji, Yan Wang, Guanlun Zhou, Minmin Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Virology Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02871-y
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author Genju Wang
Yandan Wu
Ziyue Zhang
Qiuchen Wu
Juan Tang
Ying Ji
Yan Wang
Guanlun Zhou
Minmin Yu
author_facet Genju Wang
Yandan Wu
Ziyue Zhang
Qiuchen Wu
Juan Tang
Ying Ji
Yan Wang
Guanlun Zhou
Minmin Yu
author_sort Genju Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) has been utilized as an early predictive marker for antiviral therapy, an indicator for the emergence of drug resistance in hepatitis B virus (HBV), or a marker for safe discontinuation of nucleoside analog therapy. However, its role during pregnancy has rarely been reported. We aimed to evaluate the pgRNA profiles and its dynamic changes among pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection (CHB). Methods We conducted a study involving 479 women with CHB, including 235 during pregnancy, 90 postpartum, and 154 non-pregnant women of childbearing age. pgRNA was detected using the HBV-SAT method. Additionally, we followed up 39 women in mid-pregnancy, 21 in late pregnancy, 20 within 0–3 months postpartum, and 20 non-pregnant women of childbearing age with different treatment regimens for two times. Results Significant differences were observed in clinical indicators such as HBV DNA, ALT, AST, and pgRNA among CHB women during pregnancy, postpartum, and non-pregnant periods. Pregnant and postpartum women with positive pgRNA had higher levels of DNA, HBeAg, HBsAg, and ALT. Moreover, the detection rates of pgRNA, DNA, and HBeAg varied significantly across the three stages and different treatment regimens in CHB women. pgRNA was highly correlated with HBeAg, and a moderate correlation was found between pgRNA and HBV DNA levels. This study also revealed the patterns of viral activity changes during pregnancy and postpartum, and the first three months postpartum represent a critical period for viral activity changes. This unique immune adjustment phase may offer new opportunities for the treatment of hepatitis B. Conclusion CHB women have different pgRNA and clinical characteristics during pregnancy, postpartum, and the non-pregnant childbearing period.
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spelling doaj-art-029c8198f783468293b8a7ac36be89ae2025-08-20T03:45:45ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2025-07-0122111310.1186/s12985-025-02871-yProfiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infectionGenju Wang0Yandan Wu1Ziyue Zhang2Qiuchen Wu3Juan Tang4Ying Ji5Yan Wang6Guanlun Zhou7Minmin Yu8Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Background Pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) has been utilized as an early predictive marker for antiviral therapy, an indicator for the emergence of drug resistance in hepatitis B virus (HBV), or a marker for safe discontinuation of nucleoside analog therapy. However, its role during pregnancy has rarely been reported. We aimed to evaluate the pgRNA profiles and its dynamic changes among pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection (CHB). Methods We conducted a study involving 479 women with CHB, including 235 during pregnancy, 90 postpartum, and 154 non-pregnant women of childbearing age. pgRNA was detected using the HBV-SAT method. Additionally, we followed up 39 women in mid-pregnancy, 21 in late pregnancy, 20 within 0–3 months postpartum, and 20 non-pregnant women of childbearing age with different treatment regimens for two times. Results Significant differences were observed in clinical indicators such as HBV DNA, ALT, AST, and pgRNA among CHB women during pregnancy, postpartum, and non-pregnant periods. Pregnant and postpartum women with positive pgRNA had higher levels of DNA, HBeAg, HBsAg, and ALT. Moreover, the detection rates of pgRNA, DNA, and HBeAg varied significantly across the three stages and different treatment regimens in CHB women. pgRNA was highly correlated with HBeAg, and a moderate correlation was found between pgRNA and HBV DNA levels. This study also revealed the patterns of viral activity changes during pregnancy and postpartum, and the first three months postpartum represent a critical period for viral activity changes. This unique immune adjustment phase may offer new opportunities for the treatment of hepatitis B. Conclusion CHB women have different pgRNA and clinical characteristics during pregnancy, postpartum, and the non-pregnant childbearing period.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02871-yChronic hepatitis BPgRNAPregnancyPostpartum
spellingShingle Genju Wang
Yandan Wu
Ziyue Zhang
Qiuchen Wu
Juan Tang
Ying Ji
Yan Wang
Guanlun Zhou
Minmin Yu
Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection
Virology Journal
Chronic hepatitis B
PgRNA
Pregnancy
Postpartum
title Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection
title_full Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection
title_fullStr Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection
title_full_unstemmed Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection
title_short Profiles and kinetics of PgRNA and clinical characteristics in pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection
title_sort profiles and kinetics of pgrna and clinical characteristics in pregnant postpartum and non pregnant women with chronic hbv infection
topic Chronic hepatitis B
PgRNA
Pregnancy
Postpartum
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02871-y
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