Baseline hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation can predict virologic response in entecavir-treated chronic hepatitis B patients
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
113
Journal Issue
11
Pages
786-793
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
Background/Purpose: Several anti-viral drugs are approved for the treatment of hepatitis Bvirus (HBV) infection. However, whether quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) can predict the therapeutic response during long-term entecavir treatment remains unclear. Methods: Fifty-five chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who received entecavir for more than 2 years were enrolled. The serum qHBsAg level was measured by HBsAg II quant immunoassay. A significant decline in the qHBsAg level was defined as > 1 log reduction from baseline to 6 months of entecavir treatment. Results: Of the 55 patients (41 males and 14 females with a mean age of 48.3±11.4 years), 23patients were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). The median treatment period was 34 months, and ranged from 26 months to 43 months. A total of 288 serum samples were used to determine the qHBsAg levels. At year 3 of entecavir therapy, one (1.8%) patient had HBsAg seroclearance. A high qHBsAg level was defined as greater than 10,000IU/mL. Patients with a high baseline qHBsAg level had a lower rate of virologic response at year 1 (37.5% vs. 89.7%, p<0.001) and year 2 (56.2% vs. 94.9%, p=0.001). In this study population, 14.5% had a significant decline of the qHBsAg level. A significant decline could not predict HBeAg loss in HBeAg-positive or virologic response in all patients. Conclusion: The baseline serum qHBsAg level can predict virologic response in entecavir-treated CHB patients. However, a significant decline in the qHBsAg level cannot predict serologic or virologic response of entecavir treatment. ? 2013 .
Subjects
Entecavir; Hepatitis B e antigen; Hepatitis B virus; Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen
SDGs
Other Subjects
entecavir; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatitis B(e) antigen; lamivudine; telbivudine; antivirus agent; entecavir; guanine; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatitis B(e) antigen; virus DNA; adult; aged; Article; controlled study; female; hepatitis B; human; immunoassay; limit of quantitation; major clinical study; male; middle aged; treatment outcome; treatment response; analogs and derivatives; blood; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic; prognosis; prospective study; very elderly; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; DNA, Viral; Female; Guanine; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
Publisher
Elsevier
Type
journal article