Long‐term entecavir therapy results in falls in serum hepatitis B surface antigen levels and seroclearance in nucleos(t)ide‐naïve chronic hepatitis B patients. Issue 11 (16th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hara, T.; Suzuki, F.; Kawamura, Y.; Sezaki, H.; Hosaka, T.; Akuta, N.; Kobayashi, M.; Suzuki, Y.; Saitoh, S.; Arase, Y.; Ikeda, K.; Kobayashi, M.; Watahiki, S.; Mineta, R.; Kumada, H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of viral hepatitis. Volume 21:Issue 11(2014)
• Page Start: 802
• Page End: 808
• Publication Date: 2013-12-16
• Subjects: Hepatitis, Viral -- Periodicals; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; 616.3623
• DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12211
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-0504

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvh12211-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Entecavir (ETV) is reported to result in suppression of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) replication with minimal drug resistance. However, information on the long‐term effect of such therapy on serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level and elimination of HBsAg is not available. ETV therapy was started in 553 nucleos(t)ide‐naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (HBeAg positive: 45%) in our hospital. Serum HBsAg levels were measured serially by the Architect assay. The median baseline HBsAg was 2180 IU/mL (0.12–243 000 IU/mL), and median follow‐up period was 3.0 years, with 529, 475, 355, 247 and 163 patients followed‐up for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. At year 5, the mean log HBsAg decline from baseline was −0.48 log IU/mL, and the cumulative HBsAg clearance rate was 3.5%. Multivariate analysis identified HBV DNA level at baseline (&lt;3.0 log copies IU/mL, odd ratio = 10.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.87–55.5, <italic>P </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.007) and HBsAg level (&lt;500 IU/mL, odd ratio = 29.4; 95% confidence interval = 2.80–333, <italic>P </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.005) as independent predictors of HBsAg seroclearance. These results indicate that although serum HBsAg level declines gradually during ETV therapy, HBsAg seroclearance remains a rare event.</p> </abstract>