阿德福韦酯治疗慢性乙型肝炎HBeAg血清学转换与基因型、HBV特异性CTL的关系

目的 探讨阿德福韦酯治疗慢性乙型肝炎患者发生HBeAg血清学转换与HBV基因型、HBV特异性CTL的关系.方法 70例慢性乙型肝炎患者HBV DNA阳性（HBV DNA≥1×104拷贝/ml）,HBeAg阳性45例,其中B基因型23例（51.11%）,C基因型22例（48.89%）.ALT＞2×正常参考值上限（ULN）、人白细胞抗原（HLA）-A2阳性,用阿德福韦酯（正大天睛药业公司生产）10 mg,口服,每日1次.观察治疗12个月后HBeAg血清学转换与HBV基因型、HBV特异性CTL的关系.结果 阿德福韦酯治疗12个月后,HBV特异性CTL（0.68%±0.11%）高于治疗前（0.33%±0.11%）,t=8.36 P＜0.001,HBV DNA（3.01±0.2）log10拷贝/ml低于治疗前[（6.27 ±0.70）log10拷贝/ml]t=12.63 P＜0.001,HBV DNA阴转（＜500拷贝/ml）43例（61.43%）.HBeAg阳性45例中发生HBeAg转阴13例（28.89%）,HBeAg血清学转换8例（17.78%）,HBeAg血清学转换者HBV特异性CTL（0.86 ±0.05%）高于无HBeAg血清学转换者（37例,82.22%）的HBV特异性CTL（0.61%±0.07%）,t=7.88,P＜0.001.HBeAg血清学转换8例中,B基因型7例（占B基因型30.43%）,C基因型1例（占C基因型4.55%）,x2=5.15,P＜0.05.结论 阿德福韦酯能提高CHB患者的HBV特异性细胞免疫功能,治疗后HBeAg血清学转换的发生与HBV特异性CTL水平升高有关,并可能与基因型有关.     

HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion during and after protracted immunosuppressive treatment in type B chronic hepatitis

Seventy-seven consecutive HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis patients were studied from 1971 to 1983 to establish the seroconversion rate in the e system. Patients with less than a year of follow-up were not included in the study. Fifty-six patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) received immunosuppressive treatment (corticosteroids combined with azathioprine). The remaining twenty-one patients received no treatment, nine of them with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and 12 with CAH. A retrospective study was performed with stored sera samples: HBeAg and anti-HBe were determined by RIA, and results were correlated with alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) levels in the same samples. The linearized seroconversion rate from HBeAg to anti-HBe was expressed as percent per patient-year. It was 9.6% in CPH patients and 8.8% in CAH patients without treatment. In CAH patients under immunosuppressive drugs it was as low as 1.1% and increased to 28.7% when treatment was withdrawn. ALAT levels were significantly lower in total seroconverted patients when compared with nonseroconverted (NS) patients, but no difference was found between partial seroconverted (PS) and NS patients. The results suggest that although immunosuppressive drug withdrawal may enhance seroconversion rate in type B CAH, delayed seroconversion and reported side effects during treatment stand against protracted usage of these drugs.     

Markers of viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Serum samples from 56 patients with biopsy-proven chronic B viral hepatitis without superimposed delta hepatitis were analyzed for the various markers of viral replication, including serum hepatitis B e Ag (HBeAg), hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA), and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in the liver tissues. Twenty-seven patients had persistent viral hepatitis (PH) and 29 patients had chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with or without cirrhosis. HBV-DNA was identified in the sera of 81% of patients with PH and 60% of patients with CAH. Significantly higher levels of HBV-DNA were found in patients with PH than in those with CAH. Both HBeAg in serum and HBcAg in liver correlated positively with serum HBV-DNA. Nine patients had serum HBV-DNA in the absence of HBeAg (four had anti-HBe), and seven of these nine patients had stainable HBcAg in the liver (two did not have staining). None of these patients had hepatic HBcAg in the absence of serum HBV-DNA. When these patients were stratified according to their epidemiologic background, serum HBV-DNA was present in a significantly higher number of male homosexuals than in any other groups. This was unrelated to their status of human immunodeficiency viral serology.     

Interference of replication between hepatitis B and C viruses in patients infected with HIV

The clinical and cellular interactions between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in patients co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One hundred ninety-nine patients followed for 6 years were evaluated to compare the level of HBV DNA and HCV RNA in patients co-infected with HIV and HBV, and patients co-infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. A full-length HBV genome and HCV JFH1 RNA were co-transfected into HuH-7.5.1 cells in vitro to examine the impact of co-infection and dependence on the HBV PreC mutant for replication interference. Before 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated, HBV DNA was found in 56/123 (45.4%) patients co-infected with HIV and HBV, and in 19/76 (25.0%) patients co-infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. After 3TC-based ART was initiated, detectable HBV DNA decreased to 7/76 (9.2%) in patients co-infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV, but HCV RNA increased from 43/76 (56.6%) to 60/76 (78.9%) (P = 0.003). In vitro HBV and HCV co-infection led to decreased replication of both viruses. The primary factors that influenced the decreased replication were the order of the HBV and HCV infection and the HBV PreC mutation.     

Longitudinal study of hepatitis C viremia in chronic hepatitis C

Serial serum samples from 20 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were tested for HCV RNA by a nested polymerase chain reaction assay using primers from the highly conserved 5′ noncoding region to determine the relationship between hepatitis C viremia and the activity of liver disease during the natural course of chronic HCV infection. Semiquantitation of serum HCV RNA level was achieved by testing serial 10-fold dilutions of RNA extracts to determine the end-point titer. All the patients were HCV RNA positive at presentation. There was a poor correlation between the initial HCV RNA titer and serum transaminase levels. All patients except one were persistently HCV RNA positive during a follow-up period of 1.5-15 years, although 17 (85%) had periods of normal or near-normal transaminase levels. There was no correlation between changes in the serum transaminase levels and HCV RNA titer. Patients with chronic HCV infection have persistent viremia despite fluctuations in ALT levels.     

Virological outcomes in patients infected chronically with hepatitis B virus genotype A in comparison with genotypes B and C

In a single hospital in Tokyo, the 87 patients infected persistently with hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype A, the 413 with B, and the 3,389 with C were compared for virological outcome. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was cleared from the serum in 12% (3/26), 2% (2/112), and 3% (23/826) of patients with genotypes A, B, and C, respectively, at 5 years of follow-up (P = 0.0395). Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was cleared from serum more frequently in patients with genotype B than those with A or C (78% [32/41] vs. 58% [11/19] or 45% [251/562], P = 0.00001) at 5 years. Of the 45 individuals infected with genotype A and followed for 3 years or longer, HBeAg was more frequent (16% [3/19] vs. 73% [19/26], P = 0.0002) and levels of HBV DNA higher (median <2.6 [range: <2.6-5.6] vs. >7.6 [<2.6->7.6] log copies/ml, P = 0.001) in the 26 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis than the 19 asymptomatic carriers. Among the 26 hepatitis patients infected with HBV genotype A, decreases in HBV DNA were less frequent (20% [1/5] vs. 93% [13/14] or 86% [6/7], P = 0.0095) and increases in serum levels of hyaluronic acid > or =10 ng/ml commoner (80% [4/5] vs. 14% [2/14] or 14% [1/7], P = 0.017) in the patients who kept HBeAg than in those who seroconverted or who remained HBeAg-negative. In conclusion, patients persistently infected with HBV genotype A fare better than those with genotype B or C. However, high levels of HBV DNA continue in those in whom HBeAg persists along with fibrosis in the liver.     

Presence of hepatitis B virus core promoter mutations pre-seroconversion predict persistent viral replication after HBeAg loss.

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection DNA levels do not always fall after anti-hepatitis B e (anti-HBe) seroconversion. OBJECTIVES: To follow longitudinally through HB e antigen (HBeAg) loss HBV DNA levels and core promoter/precore sequences in a cohort of 21 chronic HBV carriers. STUDY DESIGN: Treatment-na?ve HBeAg seropositive HBV carriers were monitored through HBeAg loss for between 2 and 22 years (mean 9.3). Core promoter/precore sequences, genotypes, HBV DNA levels and HBe status were determined. RESULTS: Patients were grouped into those in whom serum/plasma HBV DNA remained high after HBeAg loss (group 1, n=11; HBV DNA>5log(10)IU/ml) and those in whom HBV DNA declined (group 2, n=10). Re-appearance of HBeAg was seen in seven group 1 patients. Pre-seroconversion mutations in the core promoter region including A1762T and/or G1764A were detected more frequently in group 1 (P=0.031). Overall sequence changes at sites other than 1762/1764 were more common post-seroconversion in group 1 than group 2 patients (P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of core promoter mutations prior to HBeAg loss identified those patients in whom HBV DNA persisted at high levels and was associated with temporary re-emergence of serum HBeAg. These patients may benefit from early anti-viral treatment.     

聚乙二醇干扰素alpha-2a联合恩替卡韦治疗高病毒载量HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的临床研究

目的 观察聚乙二醇干扰素alpha-2a联合恩替卡韦治疗高病毒载量HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的疗效及安全性.方法 60例HBeAg阳性患者随机分成三组:聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a组20例(A组),恩替卡韦组20例(B组),聚乙二醇干扰素联合恩替卡韦组20例(C组)(联合治疗12周后单用聚乙二醇干扰素治疗).观察三组患者治疗4、12及24周时丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)复常率、HBV DNA阴转率、HBsAg和HBeAg血清转换情况,并观察其不良反应.结果 分别在治疗第4、12、24周时比较三组,A组、B组的HBV DNA阴转率均明显低于C组(分别为:Z=-4.6,P＜0.0001;Z=-2.53,P=0.0114);A组ALT复常率明显低于C组(Z=-2.63,P=0.0086),B组与C组的ALT复常率差异无统计学意义;C组的HBsAg、HBeAg下降幅度大于A组和B组.结论 聚乙二醇干扰素alpha-2a联合恩替卡韦治疗高病毒载量HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者,6个月疗程中HBV DNA阴转率、ALT复常率均优于聚乙二醇干扰素单药治疗,且安全性良好.     

在慢性乙肝儿童中HBV基因型分布特性及与临床特征关系的研究

目的 探讨在慢性乙肝儿童中HBV基因型分布特性及与临床特征的关系.方法 采用HBV引物特异性基因分型原理,建立巢式PCR方法 对404例儿童慢性乙型肝炎患儿的血清HBVDNA基因进行分型.结果 在儿童慢性乙肝中HBVDNA基因型主要为8型(24.5%)和c型(70.5%),其中南方儿童的8型感染率(38.7%)明显高于北方(21.3%,P=0.002)儿童,北方儿童以C型(73.3%)感染为主.B/C型的感染无性别、年龄和母婴传播途径差异.儿童慢性HBV感染者B、c不同的基因型,肝功受损程度(P=0.4796)、血清HBeA9阳性率、HBV DNA病毒载量及肝脏炎症(P=0.209)、纤维化程度(P=0.177)差异均无统计学意义.结论 HBVDNA基因型分布在儿童虽然存在南北方地域的差异,但无母婴传播、病毒复制和肝脏损伤等方面的差异.     

Response to long-term lamivudine treatment in patients infected with hepatitis B virus genotypes A, B, and C

Response to lamivudine treatment longer than 1 year was compared in 15 patients persistently infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype A, 38 with genotype B, and 449 with genotype C. Patients with genotype A were younger (median age 37 [range 24-49] vs. 47 [24-67] or 44 [18-73], P = 0.015), possessed hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) more frequently (73% vs. 21% or 56%, P < 0.001) and HBV DNA in higher levels (8.6 [6.1-8.7] vs. 6.5 [<3.7-8.7] or 6.5 [<3.7-8.7] log genome equivalents (LGE)/ml, P = 0.024) than those with genotype B or C. During lamivudine, YMDD mutants (89% vs. 53% or 42%, P = 0.0001) and breakthrough hepatitis developed more often (47% vs. 21% or 29%, P = 0.023) in patients with genotype A than B or C. YMDD mutants elicited more frequently in patients with genotype A than B or C who were positive (82% [9/11] vs. 25% [2/8] or 48% [117/245], P = 0.037) or negative for HBeAg (75% [3/4] vs. 30% [9/30] or 33% [68/204], P = 0.003). HBeAg (hazard ratio 2.1 [95% confidence interval 1.53-2.92], P < 0.001) and genotype A (2.78 [1.08-7.12], P = 0.034) enhanced the emergence of YMDD mutants by the Cox proportional hazard model. The risk for breakthrough hepatitis was increased by the baseline alanine aminotransferase level <500 IU/L (2.56 [1.82-5.50], P = 0.018), HBeAg (2.11 [1.40-3.16], P < 0.001), cirrhosis (1.92 [1.24-2.97], P = 0.004) and HBV DNA > or =8.0 LGE/ml (1.57 [1.04-2.36], P = 0.03); it was influenced by genotypes only in patients with HBeAg. In conclusion, HBV genotypes help in predicting response to long-term lamivudine treatment and development of YMDD mutants in patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

Delta infection in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B

The results of examination for anti-delta antibodies in the blood of 86 patients (33 children and 53 adults) with chronic persisting hepatitis (CPH) and chronic active hepatitis (CAH) verified by morphological examinations of liver biopsy specimens are presented. Delta infection was found in 43 (31.5%) of patients with CAH, only anti-HBe being demonstrable in the blood. In this group of patients, marked enzymatic disorders and more intensive changes in the morphological picture of the liver were demonstrated.     

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in Taiwanese hepatitis B carriers

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is classified into eight genotypes (A-H), and genotype C is associated with more aggressive liver disease compared to genotype B. However, the mechanisms responsible for the clinical differences remain unclear. To test whether genotype C patients had with lower rates of spontaneous hepatitis B ge antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion than genotype B patients, stored serum samples from 146 Taiwanese adult HBeAg-positive hepatitis B carriers followed-up for a mean of 52 months (range, 12-120 months) were tested for HBV genotype by a molecular method. Genotype C patients were significantly older than genotype B patients (mean age, 37 +/- 12 vs. 29 +/- 10 years, P < 0.001). During the follow-up period, genotype C patients had a significantly lower rate of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion than genotype B patients (27 vs. 47%, P < 0.025). Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion occurred one decade later in genotype C patients compared with genotype B patients. Multivariate analyses identified age < or =35 years (odds ratio: 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-4.0; P < 0.05), high baseline serum alanine aminotransferase level (odds ratio: 2.34; 95%CI, 1.39-4.09; P < 0.005), and HBV genotype B (odds ratio: 1.94; 95%CI, 1.03-3.63; P < 0.05) as independent factors associated with spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion. In conclusion, genotype C patients, compared to genotype B patients, have a delayed HBeAg seroconversion in the immune clearance phase of chronic HBV infection, which may contribute to a more progressive liver disease and more refractory to antiviral therapy.     

Analysis of the complete hepatitis B virus genome in patients with genotype C chronic hepatitis in relation to HBeAg and anti-HBe

To investigate the relationship between viral factors and the development of chronic hepatitis B, the entire hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome of chronic carriers at different disease stages were analyzed. Eighty genotype C HBV carriers including 12 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive asymptomatic carriers (Group A), 49 HBeAg positive patients with chronic liver diseases (Group B) and 19 anti-HBe positive patients with chronic liver diseases (Group C) were studied. HBV nucleic acid from serum samples was sequenced directly and compared with GenBank reference sequences HBV X01587 and M12906. On phylogenetic analysis, 76 cases were genotype C2. Of the 76 genotype C2 cases, the nucleotide and amino acid substitution rates in the precore/core region were significantly higher in Groups B and C than in Group A, also in Group C than in Group B. The nucleotide substitution rates in the full genome and the core promoter region were significantly higher in Group C than in Group A, also in group C than in Group B. The nucleotide and amino acid substitution rates in the X region were significantly higher in Group C than in Group A. The amino acid substitution rate in the pre-S2 region was significantly higher in Group C than in Group B. Deletion mutations were found mainly in Groups B and C. This whole genome analysis of HBV chronic carriers suggested that the nucleotide substitutions and deletions in HBV were closely associated with the pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection.     

T1846 and A/G1913 are associated with acute on chronic liver failure in patients infected with hepatitis B virus genotypes B and C

The aim of this study was to determine whether mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome are associated with the onset of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF). For the longitudinal study, full‐length HBV genomes were cloned and sequenced from four ACLF patients and compared with sequences from matching samples collected before ACLF. For the cross‐sectional study, 166 serum samples were obtained, including 49 samples from patients with ACLF. The results of longitudinal study showed that C53T, A1846T, and G1896A were the most common mutations in association with ACLF. In the cross‐sectional study 61.2% patients with ACLF presented with T1846, which was higher than patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (11.1%), liver cirrhosis (LC) (31.1%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (33.3%). Prevalence of A/G1913 was 42.9% in patients with ACLF, also higher than patients with CHB (2.2%), LC (17.8%), and HCC (11.1%). There were no differences in HBV genotype and patients' HBeAg status among patients with ACLF, LC, and HCC. However, prevalence of T1846 was much higher in patients infected with genotype B (57.1%) than genotype C (30.4%). A/G1913 was higher in HBeAg negative patients (28%) than HBeAg positive patients (13.2%). Results of a multivariable analysis showed that T1846 and A/G1913 were independent factors for ACLF (OR = 3.373 and 4.244, respectively). Interestingly, T1846 destroys an ATG codon of a small open reading frame in the preC region, which may increase core protein expression. We conclude that T1846 and A/G1913 in the preC/C gene are closely associated with ACLF. J. Med. Virol. 83:996–1004, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.