The Effect of Ocular Demodex Colonization on Schirmer test and OSDI Scores in Newly Diagnosed Dry Eye Patients

Objective: To determine whether ocularDemodexcolonization results in differences in Schirmer test scores and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire values in individuals with dry eye disease (DED) diagnosed for the first time. Method: Eighty-eight adults aged 40 to 68 years who were admitted to Ophthalmology outpatient clinic for routine ophthalmological examination or presbyopia examination and diagnosed with DED for the first time and who do not have any chronic disease were included in the study. All the patients were asked to complete the OSDI, which is widely used for assessing dry eye symptom severity and vision-related functioning. The Schirmer test was performed, and then two eyelashes were taken from the inferior eyelids of each eyes. After saline (0.09% NaCl) was added to the sample, it was quickly taken to the microbiology laboratory, which is located next to the Ophthalmology policlinic. The sample was evaluated by a parasitologist experienced inDemodex. Results: One hundred sixty-eight eyes of 84 patients were included in the study. Average Schirmer test score was 2.1 +/- 0.5, the OSDI questionnaire score was 61.82 +/- 10.95, and the mean age was 55.36 +/- 8.74 years in patients who hadDemodexcolonization (n=30), whereas the average Schirmer test score was 6.6 +/- 0.9 score, OSDI questionnaire score was 40.96 +/- 12.73, and the mean age was 49.12 +/- 6.87 years in patients withoutDemodexcolonization (n=58). It has been observed that dry eye patients withDemodexcolonization had a higher mean age (P: 0.001), higher mean OSDI score (P: 0.001), and lower average Schirmer test score (P: 0.001) compared with those withoutDemodex. The significant relationship between lower Schirmer test score and higher OSDI rates and occurrence ofDemodexinfestation continued after adjusting for mean age values (P=0.012;P=0.035). Conclusion: It was determined that the presence of ocularDemodexcolonization was associated with the average Schirmer test scores, OSDI scores, and age values in patients with newly diagnosed DED. Demodex quantity was found increased in older aged patients, but the significant relationship between lower Schirmer test score and higher OSDI rates andDemodexinfestation persisted even after controlling the mean age values. Supporting these findings with large-numbered and randomized-controlled studies will help in clarifying the association of the Demodex infestation with etiopathogenesis of dry eye

Evaluation of urinary culture and urinalysis results of pediatric patients prediagnosed with urinary tract infection

Amaç:Bu çalışmada bölgemizde 0-16 yaş grubu çocuk hastalarda üriner sistem infeksiyonuna neden olan bakteriler ve antibiyotik direnç oranlarının belirlenmesi, çeşitli idrar analiz testlerinin kültür sonuçları ile birlikte tanısal uyumunun değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve yöntem:Mart 2015- Şubat 2016 tarihleri arasında üriner sistem infeksiyonu ön tanısı alan 0-16 yaş grubu çocuk hastalara ait hem kültür hem de idrar analizi istemi olan toplam 982 idrar örneğinin sonuçları retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. Hastalara ait idrar kültürü sonuçları ile birlikte tam otomatik idrar analizatöründe incelenen lökosit (?10/mL) ve nitrit pozitifliği değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular:İdrar kültürlerinde üreme tespit edilen 196 hastada rastlanan bakteriler sıklık sırasına göre Escherichia coli (%72), Klebsiella pneumoniae (%8.6), Proteus mirabilis (%7.6), Enterococcus spp (%7) ve diğer bakteriler (%4.8) türleri olmuştur. E.coli ve K. pneumoniae izolatlarında amikasin, fosfomisin, nitrafurontain ve imipeneme karşı direnç gözlenmemiştir ve en etkili antibiyotikler olarak tespit edilmiştir. Kültür sonuçları referans kabul edilerek idrar analiz testlerinden lökosit ve nitrit pozitifliğinin tanısal sensitivite, spesifite, pozitif prediktif değer, negatif prediktif değer ve doğruluk oranları hesaplanmıştır. Bu değerler lökosit için sırasıyla %64.3, %95, %76.4, %91, %88.4 ve nitrit için %17.1, %99, %86, %83.5, %69.8 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sonuç:Bölgemizde, çocuk hastalarda antibiyotik direnç oranları diğer çalışmalara göre düşük bulunmuştur. Yaptığımız karşılaştırmaya göre idrar analiz sonuçlarının tek başına tanı koydurucu olmadığını, direnç gelişiminin önlenmesi amacı ile antibiyogramların yapılması ve takibi, hızlı tanı amacıyla kullanılan idrar analiz testlerinin kültürün daha verimli değerlendirilmesinde yararlı olacağını düşünmekteyiz.Purpose:The present study aimed to determine the bacteria causing urinary tract infection and their antibiotic resistance rates, and to assess the diagnostic compliance along with the culture results of several urine analysis tests in pediatric patients aged 0–16 years in the present region. Materials and methods:A retrospective analysis was performed to examine the results of a total of 982 urine samples received for both urine culture and analysis. These samples were of pediatric patients aged 0–16 years prediagnosed with urinary tract infection between March 2015 and February 2016. Along with the urine culture results of the patients, leukocyte (?10/mL) and nitrite positivity reviewed in the full automated urine analyzer was also evaluated. Results:The most common bacteria identified in 196 patients in whom growth was detected in urine cultures were Escherichia coli (72%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.6%), Proteus mirabilis (7.6%), Enterococcus spp. (7%), and other species (4.8%), as per the order of frequency. In E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, no resistance was observed to amikacin, phosphomycine, nitrofurantoin, and imipenem, which were also found to be the most effective antibiotics. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rates of leukocyte and nitrite positivity were calculated from the urinalysis tests by taking the culture results as reference. These values were found to be 64.3%, 95%, 76.4%, 91%, 88.4% for leukocytes and 17.1%, 99%, 86%, 83.5%, 69.8% for nitrites, respectively. Conclusion:We can say that the antibiotic resistance rates in pediatric patients in our region are found to be lower compared to other studies. According to comparisons we have made, urinary analysis results are not diagnostic alone due to the low correspondence of culture results. The urinalysis tests used for rapid diagnosis will be useful for assessing the culture more efficiently by performing and following antibiograms to prevent the development of resistance

Investigation of COVID-19 Serology in a Tertiary Care Center

Purpose: This study aimed to screen the patients admitted to our hospital for SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies after a PCR test and understand the local serological profile. Materials and Methods: The patients tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and/or IgM between January-June 2021 were included in the study. SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was performed simultaneously. Results: Either IgM or IgG alone was requested in 123 of 725 patients, and IgM and IgG together in 602. The PCR test was positive in 40 (13%) of 304 (42%) patients who had a PCR test after 30 days of the serology request. Of these PCR-positive patients, 60% had IgM and IgG antibodies together, whereas among 204 PCR-negative patients, 64% tested negative for IgM and IgG. 58% of the tests were ordered without a PCR request. The period between PCR and serology testing was as follows: 233 (76.6%) in 7 days, 27 (8.8%) in 8-14 days, 7 (2.3%) in 15-21 days, and 37 (12.3%) in 22-30 days. 117 (38.5%) of the requests were made simultaneously. Conclusion: WHO recommends that serology testing should be performed after the 1st and 3-4th week of the initial PCR test. The high rate of inappropriate testing demonstrates a lack of algorithms. The use of serological tests is recommended in conjunction with nucleic acid tests but not to be used alone in the diagnosis of COVID-19. Our results demonstrated the high rate of unnecessary requests for serology testing to determine the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Structural alterations of the choroid evaluated using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography in patients with coronavirus disease

Purpose: To assess choroidal changes using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography in coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: Thirty-two patients with moderate COVID-19 and 34 healthy subjects were included in the study. Choroidal thickness was measured at 3 points as follows: at the subfovea, 1500 mm nasal to the fovea, and 1500 mm temporal to the fovea. The total choroidal area, luminal area, stromal area, and choroidal vascular index were measured with Image-J. All the measurements were performed during the disease and at 4 months after remission. Results: In the patient group, the subfoveal, nasal, and temporal choroidal thicknesses were decreased as compared with those in the controls, but without statistically significant differences (p=0.534, p=0.437, and p=0.077, respectively). The mean total choroidal, stromal, and luminal areas and choroidal vascular index were statistically significantly decreased in the patient group (p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, and p=0.003; respectively). At 4 months after remission, the choroidal structural parameters and choroidal vascular index revealed statistically significant increases as compared with the baseline measurements in the patients with COVID-19 (all p<0.001 and p=0.047, respectively). Conclusion: The choroidal vascular and stromal parameters showed significant transient decreases during the disease course of COVID-19. © This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions 4.0 International License

Evaluation of urinary culture and urinalysis results of pediatric patients prediagnosed with urinary tract infection

Amaç:Bu çalişmada bölgemizde 0-16 yaş grubu çocuk hastalarda üriner sistem infeksiyonuna neden olan bakteriler ve antibiyotik direnç oranlarinin belirlenmesi, çeşitli idrar analiz testlerinin kültür sonuçlari ile birlikte tanisal uyumunun değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmiştir.Gereç ve yöntem:Mart 2015- Şubat 2016 tarihleri arasinda üriner sistem infeksiyonu ön tanisi alan 0-16 yaş grubu çocuk hastalara ait hem kültür hem de idrar analizi istemi olan toplam 982 idrar örneğinin sonuçlari retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. Hastalara ait idrar kültürü sonuçlari ile birlikte tam otomatik idrar analizatöründe incelenen lökosit (>=10/mL) ve nitrit pozitifliği değerlendirilmiştir.Bulgular:İdrar kültürlerinde üreme tespit edilen 196 hastada rastlanan bakteriler siklik sirasina göre Escherichia coli (%72), Klebsiella pneumoniae (%8.6), Proteus mirabilis (%7.6), Enterococcus spp (%7) ve diğer bakteriler (%4.8) türleri olmuştur. E.coli ve K. pneumoniae izolatlarinda amikasin, fosfomisin, nitrafurontain ve imipeneme karşi direnç gözlenmemiştir ve en etkili antibiyotikler olarak tespit edilmiştir. Kültür sonuçlari referans kabul edilerek idrar analiz testlerinden lökosit ve nitrit pozitifliğinin tanisal sensitivite, spesifite, pozitif prediktif değer, negatif prediktif değer ve doğruluk oranlari hesaplanmiştir. Bu değerler lökosit için sirasiyla %64.3, %95, %76.4, %91, %88.4 ve nitrit için %17.1, %99, %86, %83.5, %69.8 olarak hesaplanmiştir.Sonuç:Bölgemizde, çocuk hastalarda antibiyotik direnç oranlari diğer çalişmalara göre düşük bulunmuştur. Yaptiğimiz karşilaştirmaya göre idrar analiz sonuçlarinin tek başina tani koydurucu olmadiğini, direnç gelişiminin önlenmesi amaci ile antibiyogramlarin yapilmasi ve takibi, hizli tani amaciyla kullanilan idrar analiz testlerinin kültürün daha verimli değerlendirilmesinde yararli olacağini düşünmekteyiz.Purpose:The present study aimed to determine the bacteria causing urinary tract infection and their antibiotic resistance rates, and to assess the diagnostic compliance along with the culture results of several urine analysis tests in pediatric patients aged 0-16 years in the present region.Materials and methods:A retrospective analysis was performed to examine the results of a total of 982 urine samples received for both urine culture and analysis. These samples were of pediatric patients aged 0-16 years prediagnosed with urinary tract infection between March 2015 and February 2016. Along with the urine culture results of the patients, leukocyte (>=10/mL) and nitrite positivity reviewed in the full automated urine analyzer was also evaluated.Results:The most common bacteria identified in 196 patients in whom growth was detected in urine cultures were Escherichia coli (72%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.6%), Proteus mirabilis (7.6%), Enterococcus spp. (7%), and other species (4.8%), as per the order of frequency. In E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, no resistance was observed to amikacin, phosphomycine, nitrofurantoin, and imipenem, which were also found to be the most effective antibiotics. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rates of leukocyte and nitrite positivity were calculated from the urinalysis tests by taking the culture results as reference. These values were found to be 64.3%, 95%, 76.4%, 91%, 88.4% for leukocytes and 17.1%, 99%, 86%, 83.5%, 69.8% for nitrites, respectively.Conclusion:We can say that the antibiotic resistance rates in pediatric patients in our region are found to be lower compared to other studies. According to comparisons we have made, urinary analysis results are not diagnostic alone due to the low correspondence of culture results. The urinalysis tests used for rapid diagnosis will be useful for assessing the culture more efficiently by performing and following antibiograms to prevent the development of resistance

The Relationship Between the Serum RNA Titers of Hepatitis C Virus and Biochemical Parameters in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

WOS: 000381726500007Objective: Liver biopsy, as well as some non-invasive biochemical parameters are also used in monitoring patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum biochemical markers and HCV RNA titers in patients with previously untreated CHC. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on anti-HCV and HCV-RNA-positive 82 patients with CHC. Eighty two healthy subjects constituted the control group. Complete blood counts, total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), C-reactive protein (CRP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV RNA levels were recorded for each patient and control subject. Neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and the fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4 index) were calculated using formulas. Results: There was a significant difference in ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, red cell distribution width (RDW), lymphocytes (LYM), platelets (PLT), FIB-4, and NLR between CHC patients and controls (p=<0.05). Values of HCV RNA viral load were correlated with ALT (r=0.271; p=0.014), TP (r=-0.256; p=0.02), WBC (r=-0.365; p=0.001), NEU (r=-0.362; p=0.001) and NLR (r=0.282; p=0.01) levels. Conclusion: We have shown that ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, RDW, LYM, FIB-4, and NLR values are increased in CHC patients but, LYM and PLT levels were decreased. Also, levels of ALT and NLR have correlated with HCV RNA titers in CHC patients. These results have implied that noninvasive biochemical parameters may contribute to monitoring patients with CHC

The Relationship Between the Serum RNA Titers of Hepatitis C Virus and Biochemical Parameters in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Amaç: Karaciğer biyopsisinin yanı sıra noninvaziv bazı biyokimyasal parametreler de kronik hepatit C (KHC) takibinde kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, daha önce tedavi edilmemiş kronik HCV hastalarında serum biyokimyasal belirteçler ve HCV RNA titreleri arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Anti-HCV ve HCV-RNA pozitif 82 KHC hastası retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastaneye başvurmuş herhangi bir hastalığı olmayan 82 sağlıklı birey kontrol grubu olarak belirlendi. Hasta ve kontrol grubundaki her bir bireyin, tam kan sayımı, total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), C-reaktif protein (CRP), ?-glutamil transpeptidaz (GGT), aspartat aminotransferaz (AST), alanin aminotransferaz (ALT) ve HCV RNA düzeyleri kaydedildi. Nötrofillenfosit oranı (NLR) ve 4 faktöre dayalı fibroz endeksi (FIB-4 endeksi) formüller kullanılarak hesaplandı.Bulgular: KHC hasta ve kontrol grubu arasında ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, kırmızı hücre dağılım genişliği (RDW), lenfositler (LYM), trombositler (PLT), FIB-4 ve NLR değerlerinde anlamlı bir fark vardı (p<0.05). HCV RNA viral yük değerleri ile ALT (r=0,271; p=0,014), TP (r=-0,256; p=0,02), NEU (r=-0,365; p=0,01), WBC (r=-0,362; p=0,001) ve NLR (r=0,282; p=0,01) seviyeleri korelasyon gösterdi.Sonuç: ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, RDW, LYM, FIB-4 and NLR değerlerinin CHC hastalarında arttığını, LYM ve PLT değerlerinin ise azaldığını bulduk. Ayrıca, ALT ve NLR seviyeleri KHC hastalarında HCV RNA titreleri ile korelasyon gösterdi. Bu sonuçlar noninvaziv biyokimyasal parametrelerin kronik hepatit C hastalığının takibine katkı sağlayabileceğini göstermektedir.Objective: Liver biopsy, as well as some non-invasive biochemical parameters are also used in monitoring patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum biochemical markers and HCV RNA titers in patients with previously untreated CHC.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on anti-HCV and HCV-RNA-positive 82 patients with CHC. Eighty two healthy subjects constituted the control group. Complete blood counts, total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), C-reactive protein (CRP), ?-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV RNA levels were recorded for each patient and control subject. Neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and the fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4 index) were calculated using formulas. Results: There was a significant difference in ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, red cell distribution width (RDW), lymphocytes (LYM), platelets (PLT), FIB-4, and NLR between CHC patients and controls (p=<0.05). Values of HCV RNA viral load were correlated with ALT (r=0.271; p=0.014), TP (r=-0.256; p=0.02), WBC (r=-0.365; p=0.001), NEU (r=-0.362; p=0.001) and NLR (r=0.282; p=0.01) levels.Conclusion: We have shown that ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, RDW, LYM, FIB-4, and NLR values are increased in CHC patients but, LYM and PLT levels were decreased. Also, levels of ALT and NLR have correlated with HCV RNA titers in CHC patients. These results have implied that noninvasive biochemical parameters may contribute to monitoring patients with CHC

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Enterococcal Strains: Comparison of Clinical Breakpoint Interpretations for Disk Diffusion According to the CLSI and EUCAST

WOS: 000464106600008Objective: Our aim in this study is to compare the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria, which were started to be used in Ahi Evran University Training and Research Hospital, Medical Microbiology Laboratory, as of January 2016, in terms of antibiotic susceptibility results of enterococcal strains isolated from clinical specimens, and determine their possible effects to our reportings. Methods: A total of 77 enterococcal strains isolated from various clinical specimens were included in this study. Manual methods and the VITEK (R) 2 (bioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) automated system were used for identification of strains. Antibiotic susceptibilities of strains were determined by standard disk diffusion method. Zone diameters determined according to antibiotic susceptibility tests of strains were evaluated and compared according to the CLSI and EUCAST guidelines. Results: There was a significant difference between streptomycin (300 mu g) and quinupristin-dalfopristin (15 mu g) disks in terms of antibiotic susceptibilities of the strains in the evaluation based on both guidelines (p<0.05). Significant differences were not detected among other antibiotics (ampicillin, linezolid, norfloxacin, teicoplanin, vancomycin, gentamicin and nitrofurantoin). Conclusions: One of the most important tasks of the medical microbiology laboratories is to perform and interpret antibiotic susceptibility tests in line with current information. Also clinicians need to be aware of possible effects of changes in antibiotic susceptibility ratios along with the transition to the EUCAST guideline

EFFECTS OF CLINICAL BREAKPOINT CHANGES IN TRANSITION FROM CLSI TO EUCAST FOR ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST REPORTING OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ISOLATES: A LOCAL STUDY IN TURKEY

WOS: 000397230700017Introduction: The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) is a standard used for the implementation and evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility tests in many European countries. The EUCAST standard has been used in Turkey since 2015. The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences in antibiotic susceptibilities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolates using local data during the transition process from the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards to EUCAST. Materials and methods: In total, 105 non-duplicate clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were analyzed. Conventional methods and the Vitek-2 automated system (bioMerieux, France) were used to identify the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed with the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. In addition to the routinely used discs, ceftazidime 10 mu g and piperacillin/tazobactam 30/6 g were added to create different contents for both of the standards. The antibiotic susceptibility zone diameters of the isolates were evaluated in accordance with the CLSI 2014 and EUCAST 2014 standards, and a difference in the ratio of resistance levels was found. Results: It was observed that antibiotics with different disc contents had different resistance ratios according to the evaluation made with each of the standards. The resistance ratio of ceftazidime (10 mu g to 30 mu g) and piperacillin/tazobactam (100/10 mu g to 30/6 mu g) in P. aeruginosa increased from 1.9% and 0.95% to 4.8% and 15.2%, respectively, when we compared the CLSI 2014 with the EUCAST 2014 standards. There were no significant differences in the susceptibility results for imipenem, meropenem, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and cefepime. Conclusion: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is one of the most important tasks in clinical microbiology laboratories. Upon the implementation of the EUCAST guidelines, laboratories should be aware of the implications of modified drug susceptibility testing reports on antibiotic prescription policies. Additionally, the continuity of local surveillance activities should be ensured

Hepatit B Virüs (HBV)-DNA Seviyeleri ve Biyokimyasal Belirteçler Arasındaki İlişki

Amaç: Bu çalışmada hepatit B virüsü (HBV)-DNA düzeyleri ile biyokimyasal parametreler, yaş, cinsiyet, HBV serolojik göstergeleri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya, kronik hepatit B hastalarından alınan HBsAg (+) 124 serum örneği dâhil edilmiştir. Örneklerde HBV-DNA düzeyi, HBV serolojisi, alanin transaminaz (ALT), aspartat transaminaz, gama-glutamil transferaz (GGT), lipaz, bilirubin, laktat dehidrogenaz, C-reaktif protein düzeyleri incelenmiştir. HBV- DNA düzeyi gerçek zamanlı polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (PCR) ile serolojik belirteçler ise ELISA ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Moleküler inceleme sonucunda 116 örnekte HBV-DNA varlığı tespit edilmiş, bunların %36,2’sinin HBV-DNA düzeyinin 2000 IU/mL’nin üzerinde olduğu belirlenmiştir. HBV-DNA düzeyi 2000 IU/mL’nin üzerinde olan örnekler kadınlarda daha yüksek sıklıkta bulunmuştur. ALT düzeyinde artış saptanan HBeAg (+) hastaların %44,4’ünde HBV-DNA düzeyi 2000 IU/mL’nin üzerinde belirlenmiştir. ALT yüksekliği HBeAg (+) tüm hastalarda, HBeAg (-) olanların %24,4’ünde ve anti-HBe (+) hastaların %25,5’inde izlenmiştir. Yirmi yedisinde ALT artışı belirlenen 106 anti- HBe (+) hastasının 99’unda PCR pozitif olarak saptanmıştır. HBeAg pozitifliği izlenen tüm örneklerde HBV-DNA (+) olarak belirlenmiştir. GGT dışındaki tüm biyokimyasal parametrelerde yükseklik, HBV-DNA düzeyi 2000 IU/mL’nin üzerinde olan hastalarda 2000 IU/mL altındaki hastalara göre daha yüksek sıklıkta bulunmuştur. İstatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki sadece lipaz ile HBV-DNA düzeyi arasında belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Enfektivitenin tespitinde HBeAg serokonversiyonu tek başına yeterli değildir, yanı sıra HBV serolojik testleri, HBV-DNA düzeyleri ve transaminaz seviyeleri ile birlikte hastanın klinik durumunun da tanıda değerlendirilmesi gerekmektedir.Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the association between HBV-DNA levels and biochemical parameters, age, gender, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic markers. Materials and Methods: A total of 124 HBsAg (+) serum samples of the patients with chronic hepatitis B, were included in the study. HBV-DNA level, HBV serological markers, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartat transaminase, gama-glutamyl trans- ferase (GGT), lipase, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, and C-reactive protein levels in the samples were evaluated. HBV-DNA levels were quantitatively evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological markers were evaluated by ELISA. Results: With molecular testing, 116 samples were positive for HBV-DNA, of them 36.2% had an HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/mL. The number of samples with HBV-DNA levels >2000 IU/mL were higher in females than those of males. 44.4% of all HBeAg (+) patients with elevated ALT levels had an HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/ mL. All HBeAg (+) patients, 24.4% of HBeAg (-) patients, and 25.5% of anti-HBe (+) patients had elevated ALT levels. 99 of the 106 anti-HBe (+) carriers, of whom 27 had elevated ALT levels, were PCR positive. All HBeAg-positive samples were HBV- DNA positive. The rate of samples with elevated biochemical parameters except GGT levels were higher serian patients with HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/mL than in patients with HBV-DNA level <2000 IU/mL. A statistically significant relationship was detected only between lipase and HBV-DNA levels. Conclusion: It is clear that HBeAg seroconversion is not sufficiently definitive to determine the infectivity and it is crucial to evaluate HBV serological tests, HBV- DNA levels, transaminases levels besides the clinical picture of the patient in the diagnosis of the infection