Correlation between hepatitis B core-related antigen and HBV viral load in chronic hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

•HBcrAg correlated positively with HBV DNA irrespective of HBeAg status.•Significant correlation was noted between HBcrAg and HBV DNA in CHB/HCC patients.•Correlation between HBcrAg and cccDNA was observed in HCC with low virus loads.•The recurrence rates of HCC were high in patients with high levels of intrahepatic cccDNA and serum HBcrAg.