Method of diagnosing HBV infection stages

摘要

The present invention concerns a method for the diagnosis of HBV infection stages which comprises the identification of full-length HBV transcripts (I) and truncated HBV transcripts (II), preferably transcripts comprising the X-region of HBV (HBx RNA), in a serum sample wherein the ratio of I:II is indicative of a particular infection stage. A ratio of full-length HBV transcripts (I) : truncated HBV transcripts (II) > 1 is indicative of a replicative HBV infection stage, whereas a ratio of full-length HBV transcripts (I) : truncated HBV transcripts (II) < 1 is indicative of a chronic HBV infection stage and, in addition, indicative of a risk to develop HCC.