Combining age and HBsAg level predicts post‐treatment durability of nucleos(t)ide analogue‐induced HBeAg seroconversion. Issue 5 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yao, Chih‐Chien; Lee, Chuan‐Mo; Hung, Chao‐Hung; Wang, Jing‐Houng; Hu, Tsung‐Hui; Lu, Sheng‐Nan; Changchien, Chi‐Sin; Hsu, Mei‐Chin; Chen, Chien‐Hung
• Is Part Of: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. Volume 30:Issue 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: 918
• Page End: 924
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12874
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0815-9319

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jgh12874-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and Aims</title> <p>Previous studies have indicated that lamivudine‐induced hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion may not be durable in the Asian population. We investigated the useful predictors of post‐treatment hepatitis B virus (HBV) relapse in patients with nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)‐induced HBeAg loss/seroconversion.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12874-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A total of 157 non‐cirrhotic patients with NA‐induced HBeAg loss/seroconversion (78, lamivudine; 68, entecavir; 11, telbivudine) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had at least 12 months of post‐treatment follow‐up and consolidation therapy duration.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12874-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The cumulative rate of post‐treatment HBV relapse at 5 years was 57.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed that age and baseline hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels independently predicted post‐treatment HBV relapse. The post‐treatment HBV relapse rate was significantly higher in patients aged > 40 years than in those < 40 years (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). A baseline HBsAg level of 2000 IU/mL was the optimal cut‐off value for predicting post‐treatment HBV relapse (<italic>P</italic> = 0.002). The post‐treatment HBV relapse risk further increased with the presence of both risk factors (age ≥ 40 years and baseline HBsAg level ≥ 2000 IU/mL; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). A prolonged consolidation therapy period of ≥ 18 or 24 months had no positive effect on sustained viral suppression. There was no significant difference in post‐treatment HBV relapse rates between patients with lamivudine‐ and entecavir‐induced HBeAg loss/seroconversion during the off‐treatment follow‐up (<italic>P</italic> = 0.31).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12874-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The combination of an age of 40 years and a baseline HBsAg level of 2000 IU/mL was a useful marker for predicting post‐treatment HBV relapse in patients with NA‐induced HBeAg loss/seroconversion.</p> </sec> </abstract>