Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B After 2 Years of Entecavir Treatment.

[Guest guest]

Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Aug 9. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2011.253. [Epub ahead of print]

Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels in Patients With Chronic

Hepatitis B After 2 Years of Entecavir Treatment.

Fung J, Lai CL, Young J, Wong DK, Yuen J, Seto WK, Yuen MF.

Source

Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Hospital, Hong

Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The role of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in patients

receiving oral antiviral therapy is controversial. We aimed to determine the

HBsAg response in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir 0.5 mg

daily for 2 years.

METHODS:

A total of 166 patients were included. Liver biochemistry, hepatitis B virus

(HBV) serological markers, HBV DNA, and quantitative HBsAg levels were performed

at baseline, year 1, and year 2 after commencing entecavir. Additional HBsAg

levels were measured at 12 and 24 weeks in patients with available sera.

RESULTS:

In all, 68 patients were hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) positive. Age, HBV DNA,

and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly correlated with HBsAg

levels at baseline (r=-0.429, 0.607, and 0.254, respectively, all P<0.05). The

correlation with HBV DNA and ALT levels was reduced by entecavir treatment, and

was lost after 2 years of treatment. There was an overall decline in HBsAg

levels from baseline to year 1 to year 2 (3,377.4 vs. 2,316.5 vs.

1,903.0 IU/ml, respectively, P<0.001). However, at year 2, 102 patients (61%)

had no significant changes (<0.5 log difference), 50 (30%) had significant

decline (≥0.5 log decrease), whereas 14 (9%) had significant increase (≥0.5

log increase). Of the patients, 151 (91%) had undetectable HBV DNA; 25 (37%)

underwent HBeAg seroconversion. Neither HBsAg at baseline nor early decline at

weeks 12 or 24 was predictive of HBeAg seroconversion at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite HBV DNA suppression, the majority did not show significant decline in

HBsAg levels. Early decline of HBsAg levels at 12/24 weeks was not associated

with HBV DNA suppression or HBeAg seroconversion.Am J Gastroenterol advance

online publication, 9 August 2011; doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.253.

PMID: 21826112 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Guest guest]

Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Aug 9. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2011.253. [Epub ahead of print]

Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels in Patients With Chronic

Hepatitis B After 2 Years of Entecavir Treatment.

Fung J, Lai CL, Young J, Wong DK, Yuen J, Seto WK, Yuen MF.

Source

Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Hospital, Hong

Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The role of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in patients

receiving oral antiviral therapy is controversial. We aimed to determine the

HBsAg response in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir 0.5 mg

daily for 2 years.

METHODS:

A total of 166 patients were included. Liver biochemistry, hepatitis B virus

(HBV) serological markers, HBV DNA, and quantitative HBsAg levels were performed

at baseline, year 1, and year 2 after commencing entecavir. Additional HBsAg

levels were measured at 12 and 24 weeks in patients with available sera.

RESULTS:

In all, 68 patients were hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) positive. Age, HBV DNA,

and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly correlated with HBsAg

levels at baseline (r=-0.429, 0.607, and 0.254, respectively, all P<0.05). The

correlation with HBV DNA and ALT levels was reduced by entecavir treatment, and

was lost after 2 years of treatment. There was an overall decline in HBsAg

levels from baseline to year 1 to year 2 (3,377.4 vs. 2,316.5 vs.

1,903.0 IU/ml, respectively, P<0.001). However, at year 2, 102 patients (61%)

had no significant changes (<0.5 log difference), 50 (30%) had significant

decline (≥0.5 log decrease), whereas 14 (9%) had significant increase (≥0.5

log increase). Of the patients, 151 (91%) had undetectable HBV DNA; 25 (37%)

underwent HBeAg seroconversion. Neither HBsAg at baseline nor early decline at

weeks 12 or 24 was predictive of HBeAg seroconversion at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite HBV DNA suppression, the majority did not show significant decline in

HBsAg levels. Early decline of HBsAg levels at 12/24 weeks was not associated

with HBV DNA suppression or HBeAg seroconversion.Am J Gastroenterol advance

online publication, 9 August 2011; doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.253.

PMID: 21826112 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]