HBsAg loss after peginterferon‐nucleotide combination treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients: 5 years of follow‐up

Combining peginterferon‐alfa‐2a (pegIFN) with a nucleotide analogue can result in higher rates of HBsAg loss than either therapy given alone. Here, we investigated the durability of the response to combination therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after 5 years of follow‐up. In the initial study, 92 CHB patients (44 HBeAg‐positive, 48 HBeAg‐negative) with HBV DNA >100 000 c/mL (~20 000 IU/mL) and active hepatitis were treated for 48 weeks with pegIFN 180 μg/week and 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil daily. For the long‐term follow‐up (LTFU) study, patients were followed up for 5 years after the end of treatment. At year 5, 70 (32 HBeAg‐positive, 38 HBeAg‐negative) patients remained in the study. At year 5, 19% (6/32) of HBeAg‐positive patients and 16% (6/38) of HBeAg‐negative patients lost HBsAg, and no HBsAg seroreversion was observed. The 5‐year cumulative Kaplan‐Meier estimate for HBsAg loss was 17.2% for HBeAg‐positive patients and 19.3% for HBeAg‐negative patients. Fourteen of sixteen patients who lost HBsAg at any time point during follow‐up developed anti‐HBs antibodies (>10 IU/L). At year 5, in total 63% (20/32) of HBeAg‐positive and 71% (27/38) of HBeAg‐negative patients were retreated with nucleos(t)ide analogues during follow‐up. The cumulative Kaplan‐Meier estimate for retreatment was 60% of patients at year 5. At year 5 of follow‐up, 18% of CHB patients treated with pegIFN/nucleotide analogue combination therapy had durable HBsAg loss and 88% of these had developed anti‐HBs antibodies.     

Acquirement and disappearance of HBsAg and anti‐HCV in an aged population: a follow‐up study in an endemic township

Background: HBsAg and anti‐hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) are stable markers and widely used. The seroconversion and seroclearance of HBsAg and anti‐HCV are important for disease control and prognosis of diseases. Aims: To investigate acquirement and disappearance of HBsAg and anti‐HCV in an endemic area. Methods: Seven years after a community screening, 1002 of 2909 residents of Tzukuan Township were recruited. HBsAg, anti‐HCV and alanine transaminase (ALT) were checked in all who participated and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, anti‐HBs, anti‐HBc, HCV RNA, anti‐HDV and upper abdominal ultrasonography were studied in different groups. Results: There were 461 male and 541 female residents with a mean age of 66.7±8.6 years. No new HBsAg carrier was noted and the HBsAg clearance rate was 1.58% per year. One of the 17 cases with HBsAg clearance had positive HBV DNA, three had ALT elevation, two had cirrhosis and seven had anti‐HBs seroconversion. Quantitative of HBsAg and HBV DNA were concordant and 78.1% subjects had low levels of titration. Anti‐HBc alone contributed to 32.1% and was prominent in old age and the anti‐HCV‐positive group. The anti‐HCV seroconversion rate was only 0.74% per year and household transmission was the only risk factor. Only 37.5% of cases with anti‐HCV seroconversion had HCV viraemia and the anti‐HCV seroreversion rate was 0.63% per year. The anti‐HDV seroconversion rate was 0.72% per year and no subject showed anti‐HDV clearance. Conclusions: Much higher rates of HBsAg seroclearance, anti‐HCV seroreversion and anti‐HBc alone were noted in this endemic area and no subject showed anti‐HDV clearance.     

Assessment of chronic hepatitis B: the importance of hepatitis B virus DNA testing

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has an estimated prevalence of 90 000 to 160 000 in Australia. Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are important complications of CHB and appropriate evaluation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive individuals is vital to identify treatment candidates. Methods: A review of the database of a tertiary hospital was performed and 348 HBsAg‐positive individuals with baseline demographic, virological, serological and biochemical variables were identified and evaluated cross‐sectionally. A small subgroup of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at baseline were identified and followed longitudinally. Results: 175/348 (50%) of patients were in the HBeAg‐negative, chronic hepatitis phase of disease, 22% in the HBeAg‐positive immune clearance and 6% in the immune tolerant phases. HBeAg‐negative patients were older and more likely to be male than HBeAg‐positive patients. The correlation between hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and ALT levels was examined. ALT and HBV DNA levels showed no correlation in HBeAg‐positive CHB and only a weak correlation in HBeAg‐negative patients. Furthermore, 35% of HBeAg‐negative patients with detectable HBV DNA had a normal ALT. Conversely 38% of HBeAg‐negative patients with no detectable HBV DNA had an elevated ALT. A persistently normal ALT over 24 months was seen in five of nine HBeAg‐negative patients with normal initial ALT and detectable HBV DNA. Conclusion: Appropriate evaluation of HBeAg‐negative CHB must include HBV DNA because the ALT is not a reliable guide to underlying viral replication.     

替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的疗效及相关预测因子的Logistic回归分析

目的观察替比夫定（LdT）治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者3年的疗效,应用Logistic回归探讨HBeAg血清学转换的预测因子。方法收集58例采用LdT治疗的HBeAg阳性CHB患者,分析其性别、年龄、基线ALT水平、基线HBV DNA载量、基线HBeAg和HBsAg滴度与治疗3年时ALT复常率、HBV DNA阴转率、HBeAg阴转率和HBeAg血清转换率的相关性;采用Logistic回归分析HBeAg血清转换的相关因素。结果治疗3年时ALT复常率为84.48%,HBV DNA阴转率为70.69%,HBeAg阴转率为50.00%,HBeAg血清转换率为43.10%。与ALT≤2倍正常值上限（2×ULN）相比,基线ALT〉5×ULN的患者HBeAg转换率显著增高（P〈0.05）;与HBeAg≤100（S/CO）组相比,基线HBeAg〉200 S/CO的患者HBeAg的阴转率和血清转换率均显著下降（P〈0.05）;与HBV DNA≤6 log拷贝/ml组相比,HBV DNA〉7 log拷贝/ml的患者HBV DNA转阴率、HBeAg转阴率和HBeAg转换率下降显著（P〈0.05）;患者性别、年龄及基线HBsAg滴度对以上疗效指标无影响（P〉0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析发现仅基线HBeAg滴度低的患者更易出现HBeAg血清学转换。结论 LdT能有效恢复肝功能,抑制HBV复制和提高HBeAg血清转换;基线HBeAg滴度可预测LdT治疗HBeAg阳性CHB患者的HBeAg血清转换率。     

Interferon‐α treatment in children and young adults with chronic hepatitis B: a long‐term follow‐up study in Taiwan

Background/Aims: The short‐ and long‐term benefits of interferon (IFN)‐α therapy in young patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) acquiring infection perinatally or during early childhood have been questioned. Methods: Twenty‐one Taiwanese hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)‐positive CHB patients aged 1.8–21.8 years (median 14.0 years) with alanine aminotransferase (ALT)>80 IU/L at entry were enrolled for IFN‐α therapy. They received IFN‐α therapy with a dose of 3 MU/m²/day three times a week for 24 weeks. A control group included untreated 21 CHB patients closely matched for gender, age, duration of ALT >80 IU/L and HBeAg status. All 42 patients were prospectively followed for 6.5–12.5 years after the end of therapy. Results: The cumulative rate of virological response [anti‐HBe seroconversion and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐DNA <10⁵ copies/ml] was not different between the IFN‐treated patients and control patients at 1 year (41 vs 44%) and at 6 years (88 vs 89%) after stopping treatment. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen loss occurred in two (9.5%) treated patients and in one (4.8%) control patient. Patients with a successful treatment response (anti‐HBe seroconversion, HBV‐DNA <10² copies/ml and ALT normalization at 1 year after stopping treatment) were younger than those without a successful response (P=0.03). A lower pretreatment serum HBV‐DNA level (<2 × 10⁸ copies/ml) is not only a significant factor to predict successful treatment response (P=0.008) but also has a beneficial effect on the long‐term cumulative rate of virological response in IFN‐treated patients (P=0.021), but not in control patients. Genotype difference or emergence of a precore stop codon mutant before treatment was not predictive for HBeAg clearance. Conclusion: For young CHB patients in Taiwan with infection occurring perinatally or in early childhood, the real advantage of IFN‐α therapy was not observed. IFN‐α therapy showed a beneficial effect on short‐ and long‐term virological outcomes only in those with a lower pretreatment serum HBV‐DNA level.     

替比夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎108周的临床疗效

目的 探讨替比夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者108周的临床疗效.方法 随机选择就诊于吉林大学中日联谊医院未经过抗病毒治疗的72例CHB患者,其中包括35例肝硬化患者,给予口服替比夫定600 mg,1次/d,连续治疗108周.观察患者治疗前、后血清HBV DNA水平,肝功能及HBV标志物.根据12周和24周时的HBV DNA水平将患者分为＜3 log_(10)拷贝/ml和≥3 log_(10)拷贝/ml两组,比较其在治疗108周时的疗效.疗效比较采用χ~2检验.结果 替比夫定治疗4周时,HBV DNA不可测率及ALT复常率分别为37.5%和33.3%,至108周时达到87.5%和91.7%.46例HBeAg阳性患者治疗108周时HBeAg消失率及血清学转换率分别为39.1%和23.9%.12周时HBV DNA水平＜3 log_(10)拷贝/ml的患者,108周时的HBV DNA不可测率及HBeAg血清学转换率明显高于HBV DNA≥3 log_(10)拷贝/ml的患者(χ~2值分别为7.96和3.94,P值均＜0.05).24周时HBV DNA＜3log_(10)拷贝/ml的患者,108周时的HBV DNA不可测率高于HBVDNA≥3 log_(10)拷贝/ml的患者(χ~2=10.13,P＜0.05),耐药发生率低于HBV DNA≥3 log_(10)拷贝/ml的患者(χ~2=4.82,P＜0.05).替比夫定抗病毒治疗108周时肝硬化患者Child-Pugh分级较治疗前明显改善,其中Child A级患者比例明显增加(χ~2=5.83,P＜0.05).结论 替比夫定可强效、快速抑制HBV DNA复制,HBeAg血清学转换率高,长期治疗可明显改善肝硬化患者Child-Pugh评分,获得早期病毒学应答者的耐药发生率低.     

Low risk of hepatitis B reactivation in patients with severe COVID‐19 who receive immunosuppressive therapy

A significant proportion of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 develop severe respiratory symptoms due to an excessive immune response. Treatment of this condition may include immunosuppressive therapies, such as IL‐6 receptor antagonists and corticosteroids, which pose a risk for patients with active or past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this prospective cohort study, we analysed the risk of HBV reactivation in patients with severe COVID‐19 and resolved HBV infection undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. From 15th March to 30th April 2020, 600 patients with severe COVID‐19 were admitted to our hospital and treated with immune modulators. Data regarding HBV infection were available in 484, of whom 69 (14%) were HBsAg negative/anti‐HBc positive. For these patients, HBV reactivation prophylaxis with entecavir was strongly recommended. Complete follow‐up was available in 61 patients: 72% were male, median age was 67 years, and anti‐HBs was >10 IU/mL in 72%. The immunosuppressive drug most used was tocilizumab (72%). Despite HBV prophylaxis recommendation, 38 (62%) patients received entecavir and 23 (38%) did not. Baseline features of both groups were similar. At follow‐up, we found no cases of HBsAg seroreversion and only 2 (3%) patients (no prophylaxis group) had detectable serum HBV‐DNA (<15 IU/mL). Both were anti‐HBs negative and had normal aminotransferase levels. Our data show that the risk of HBV reactivation in patients with severe COVID‐19 and resolved HBV infection undergoing immunosuppressive treatment is low. However, if a systematic follow‐up after hospital discharge is unfeasible in patients without anti‐HBs, a short course of antiviral prophylaxis may be a safe option.     

A large population study of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion and acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B infection: implications for antiviral therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Clinical data on spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion and acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection from large population studies are lacking. In the present study we examined the clinical features and significance of HBeAg seroconversion and acute exacerbation in 3063 Chinese CHB patients. METHODS: Clinical assessment, liver biochemistry, hepatitis B virus (HBV) serology and HBV DNA, time of HBeAg seroconversion, and acute exacerbation were monitored. RESULTS: Median age at HBeAg seroconversion was 34.5 years. The cumulative HBeAg seroconversion rate significantly increased with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels on presentation (p<0.0001). For patients with ALT levels more than twice the upper limit of normal (ULN) on presentation, the HBeAg seroconversion rate at the fifth year of follow up was 72.4%. After HBeAg seroconversion, 65.2% (73/110) of patients had undetectable HBV DNA levels by the Digene Hybrid Capture assay. Of these, 78.1% still had HBV DNA levels detectable by the Amplicor HBV Monitor Test. We found that 37.5% antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) positive patients had undetectable HBV DNA levels by the Digene Hybrid Capture assay before acute exacerbation. Acute exacerbations of longer duration, with higher peak ALT, bilirubin, and alpha fetoprotein levels were associated with an increased HBeAg seroconversion rate (p<0.0001-0.045). Acute exacerbation with peak ALT levels more than five times the ULN carried a 46.4% chance of HBeAg seroconversion within three months. HBeAg seroreversion and mortality occurred in 2.7% and 0.7% of acute exacerbations, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the present study we have provided information on HBeAg seroconversion and acute exacerbation, which are important in decision making for CHB treatment and in designing clinical trials.     

慢性乙型肝炎合并非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者抗病毒治疗的疗效探讨

目的对慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）合并非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）患者抗病毒治疗疗效进行回顾性分析,探讨肝细胞脂肪变是否影响CHB患者抗病毒的疗效。方法收集2004年1月至2011年12月在本院进行抗病毒治疗的110例CHB患者,CHB合并NAFLD患者99例,采用荧光定量PCR法检测血清HBV DNA水平,用化学发光法检测血清乙型肝炎两对半定量,采用全自动生物化学分析仪检测肝功能。计数资料采用χ2检验,计量资料采用t检验。结果 （1）干扰素抗病毒治疗时,24周单纯CHB患者较合并脂肪肝患者生化学应答率更高（χ2=4.069,P=0.044）;48周HBV DNA阴转率明显优于后者（χ2=17.327,P=0.000）。对于HBeAg阳性患者,单纯CHB患者在24周的生化学应答率、24和48周时的HBV DNA阴转率、HBeAg阴转率均显著优于合并脂肪肝患者,两者比较差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,48周时两组的生化学应答差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。（2）核苷和核苷酸类药物抗病毒治疗时,48周单纯CHB患者的生化学应答率较高（χ2=7.620,P=0.006）,24和48周的HBV DNA阴转率差异无统计学意义。对于HBeAg阳性患者,24周时合并脂肪肝组患者的HBeAg转阴率高于单纯CHB患者,48周时ALT/AST复常率低于单纯CHB患者,差异均具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,24周ALT/AST复常率、HBV DNA转阴率、48周HBV DNA转阴率、HBeAg转阴率差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论肝细胞脂肪变对CHB患者的抗病毒治疗效果存在一定的影响。     

慢性乙型肝炎肝组织中 PD-L1在干扰素治疗中的表达

目的：研究慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织中程序性死亡分子配体1（PD-L1）在进行聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 抗病毒治疗前后及不同应答组间的表达变化，以进一步明确其与干扰素抗病毒疗效的相关性。方法15例慢性乙肝患者予以聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 治疗48周，根据抗病毒疗效分为完全应答组、部分应答组及无应答组，检测治疗前后及不同应答组间 ALT、HBV DNA、HBV 标志物及肝脏病理变化，采用免疫组织化学方法结合图像定量分析系统检测肝组织 PD-L1的表达。结果在长效干扰素抗病毒治疗48周后，完全应答组 ALT 均降至正常，HBV DNA 低于检测下限，HBeAg 出现血清学转换，肝脏炎症程度有所好转，肝脏 PD-L1表达较治疗前明显下降（P ＜0．05）；部分应答组 ALT 降至正常， HBV DNA 较治疗前有所下降，但仍未低于检测下限，HBeAg 未发生血清学转换，肝脏炎症程度有所好转，肝脏 PD-L1表达较治疗前明显下降（P ＜0．05）；无应答组 ALT、HBV DNA、肝脏炎症程度及肝组织 PD-L1的表达较治疗前无明显变化，HBeAg 均未发生血清学转换。结论慢性乙型肝炎患者进行聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 抗病毒治疗，可通过下调肝组织 PD-L1表达从而抑制病毒复制，改善肝脏炎性反应程度。     

Elimination of hepatitis B virus surface antigen and appearance of neutralizing antibodies in chronically infected patients without viral clearance

Summary. Seroconversion from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to antibodies against HBsAg (anti‐HBs) usually indicates resolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Here, two HBV‐infected patients with seroconversion to anti‐HBs were found to be persistently positive for HBeAg and HBV DNA. Immunohistology of liver biopsies confirmed the expression of HBV proteins in the liver of one patient. The neutralizing ability of anti‐HBs in patient sera was demonstrated by blocking HBV infection of primary tupaia hepatocytes. Analysis of the HBsAg‐encoding region of HBV isolates from patients indicated the coexistence of heterogeneous HBV genomes in patients. The majority of recombinant variant HBsAg was reactive in HBsAg assays and was able to bind to anti‐HBs. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) of HBsAg in patient sera could be detected by polyethylene glycol precipitation and trypsin digestion. Thus, neutralizing anti‐HBs may appear in chronic HBV carriers for long periods but does not necessarily lead to complete viral clearance.     

Prevalence and clinical features of patients with concurrent HBsAg and anti‐HBs: Evaluation of the hepatitis B research network cohort

The prevalence of concurrent HBsAg and anti‐HBs in plasma of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is variable and its clinical significance enigmatic. We examined the prevalence and clinical and virological features of concurrent HBsAg and anti‐HBs in children and adults with chronic HBV infection living in North America. A total of 1462 HBsAg positive participants in the Hepatitis B Research Network paediatric and adult cohorts were included (median age 41 (range 4‐80) years, 48% female, 11% white, 13% black, 73% Asians). Only 18 (1.2%) were found to be anti‐HBs positive (≥10 mIU/mL) at initial study evaluation. Distributions of sex, race, HBV genotype and ALT were similar between participants with and without concurrent anti‐HBs. Those who were anti‐HBs positive appeared to be older (median age 50 vs 41 years, P = .06), have lower platelet counts (median 197 vs 222 × 103/mm³, P = .07) and have higher prevalence of HBeAg (44% vs 26%, P = .10). They also had lower HBsAg levels (median 2.0 vs 3.5 log₁₀ IU/mL, P = .02). Testing of follow‐up samples after a median of 4 years (range 1‐6) in 12 of the 18 participants with initial concurrent anti‐HBs showed anti‐HBs became undetectable in 6, decreased to <10 mIU/mL in 1 and remained positive in 5 participants. Two patients lost HBsAg during follow‐up. In conclusion, prevalence of concurrent HBsAg and anti‐HBs was low at 1.2%, with anti‐HBs disappearing in some during follow‐up, in this large cohort of racially diverse children and adults with chronic HBV infection living in North America. Presence of concurrent HBsAg and anti‐HBs did not identify a specific phenotype of chronic hepatitis B, nor did it appear to affect clinical outcomes.     

Switching to peginterferon for chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion on entecavir – A prospective study

Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) are effective in suppressing hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, but most patients require long‐term treatment. This study aimed to investigate switching to peginterferon as a strategy to stop NA. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients who developed HBeAg seroconversion during NA treatment were studied. All patients received open‐label peginterferon alfa‐2a 180 μg/wk for 48 weeks, and NA was stopped at week 4 of peginterferon treatment. The primary endpoint was sustained response, which was defined as negative HBeAg, positive anti‐HBe and HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL at week 72. Other secondary endpoints including HBsAg loss at week 72 were also studied. Forty‐one patients treated with entecavir for 56 ± 23 months were recruited. Sustained response was achieved in 30 patients (73%, 95% confidence interval 58%‐84%). At week 72, 31 (76%) patients had HBeAg seroconversion, 56 (23%) patients had undetectable HBV DNA, 31 (76%) patients had normal ALT, and 6 patients (15%) had HBsAg loss. Baseline HBsAg level was the best predictor for both sustained response and HBsAg loss; the best HBsAg cut‐off for sustained response was <1500 IU/mL and that for HBsAg loss was <500 IU/mL by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Twenty‐two of 25 (88%) patients with baseline HBsAg <1500 IU/mL had sustained response. Five of 10 (50%) patients with baseline HBsAg <500 IU/mL developed HBsAg loss. Switching to peginterferon can be considered as a treatment option in NA‐treated patients with HBeAg seroconversion, particularly among those with lower HBsAg levels.     

A 7‐year study of lamivudine therapy for hepatitis B virus e antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients in China

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long‐term efficacy and safety of lamivudine treatment for chronic hepatitis B and the impact of emergence of YMDD mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV). METHODS: A total of 429 patients with serum HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA positive were randomized to receive either lamivudine 100 mg daily or a placebo in a 3:1 ratio for the first 12 weeks. Thereafter, all patients were administered with lamivudine 100 mg/d for 5 years and followed up for 2 years. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of the lamivudine treatment, serum HBV DNA levels decreased rapidly and HBV DNA negativity (<1.6 pg/mL) was 92.2%, whereas it was only 14.1% (P < 0.01) in the placebo group. At the end of 5 years, serum HBV DNA continued to be substantially suppressed. The loss of HBeAg and seroconversion were significantly correlated with baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, in patients with baseline ALT > 2 × upper limits of normal, the loss of HBeAg was 54% and seroconversion rate was 50%, respectively. YMDD mutation developed in 70.8% of the patients at years 5. In YMDD mutant patients, HBV DNA levels were increased moderately and with mild to moderate elevations of ALT. ALT flares (ALT > 5ULN) occurred in 22 patients, 16 with YMDD variants and six with non‐variants. One year durability of seroconversion after stopping lamivudine was 80%. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine is effective and tolerable for chronic hepatitis B.     

HBV reactivation in patients with HCV/HBV cirrhosis on treatment with direct‐acting antivirals

Anecdotal reports suggest that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) hepatitis and overt or occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection may reactivate HBV when HCV is suppressed or cleared by direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs). We assessed the prevalence of overt or previous HBV coinfection and the risk of HBV reactivation in patients with HCV cirrhosis treated with DAAs. This was a retrospective cohort of 104 consecutive patients with HCV cirrhosis treated with DAAs. Serum HCV‐RNA and HBV‐DNA were tested at weeks 4, 8 and 12 of DAAs therapy and at week 12 of follow‐up. At the start of DAAs, eight patients (7.7%) were HBsAg positive/HBeAg negative with undetectable HBV‐DNA and low levels of quantitative HBsAg (four on nucleos(t)ide analogues [NUCs] and four inactive carriers), 37 patients (35.6%) had markers of previous HBV infection (25 anti‐HBc positive, 12 anti‐HBc/anti‐HBs positive) and 59 (56.7%) had no evidence of HBV infection. Sixty‐seven patients (64.4%) were HCV‐RNA negative at week 4 and 98 (94.2%) achieved sustained virological response. All four HBsAg‐positive patients treated with NUCs remained HBV‐DNA negative, but three of four untreated patients showed an increase in HBV‐DNA of 2‐3 log without a biochemical flare and achieved HBV‐DNA suppression when given NUCs. During or after DAAs, by conventional assay, HBV‐DNA remained not detectable in all 37 anti‐HBc‐positive patients but in three of them (8.1%) HBV‐DNA became detectable with a highly sensitive PCR. HBV reactivation is likely to occur in untreated HBV/HCV‐coinfected cirrhotic patients when they undergo HCV treatment with DAAs. Pre‐emptive therapy with NUCs should be considered in this setting. Anti‐HBc‐positive patients rarely reactivate HBV without clinical or virological outcomes.     

Comparison between quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen,hepatitis B e‐antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA levels for predicting virological response to pegylated interferon‐α‐2b therapy in hepatitis B e‐antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical applicability of quantitative serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e‐antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA for predicting virological response (VR) to pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) therapy. Methods: Thirty HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients who received PEG‐IFN‐α‐2b for 48 weeks were enrolled. Quantitative HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA were measured before, during and after the therapy. Paired liver biopsies were performed before and after treatment for covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA and intrahepatic HBV DNA analysis. Results: VR at 48 weeks post‐treatment, defined as HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA less than 10 000 copies/mL was achieved in 10 (33.3%) patients. Responders had significantly lower baseline HBsAg, HBeAg, cccDNA and intrahepatic HBV DNA levels than non‐responders. Baseline and reduced levels of log₁₀ HBsAg and log₁₀ HBeAg correlated well with those of log₁₀ cccDNA and log₁₀ total intrahepatic HBV DNA. Responders showed consistent decrease in serum HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA levels during therapy. HBeAg level of 2.0 log₁₀ sample to cut‐off ratio at week 24 on therapy provided the best prediction of sustained virological response, with sensitivity and negative predictive values of 85% and 92%, respectively. One patient (3.3%) who cleared HBsAg at follow up exhibited a more rapid decline in serum HBsAg during therapy than those who developed VR without HBsAg clearance. Conclusion: Quantitative measurement of serum HBeAg during therapy may be superior to serum HBsAg and HBV DNA as a prediction of HBeAg seroconversion. Kinetics of HBsAg levels on therapy may help predict HBsAg clearance after treatment.     

拉米夫定联合胸腺肽治疗慢性乙型肝炎的疗效观察

目的 评价拉米夫定联合胸腺肽治疗慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)的近、远期疗效和安全性，探讨两者联合治疗的协同作用。方法 将207例HBV DNA及HBeAg阳性的CHB患者随机分为甲乙两组，甲组采用拉米夫定和胸腺肽联合治疗，乙组单用拉米夫定治疗。胸腺肽15mg口服，每日1次，疗程6个月。两组拉米夫定治疗均为100mg，每日1次，口服，其中甲组92例(92／124)、乙组70例(70／83)用药超过12个月。两组在治疗6个月、12个月时分别进行疗效评价，治疗结束后继续随访12个月。结果 治疗6个月时，甲乙两组ALT复常率分别为87．1％和74．7％，甲组显著高于乙组(P＜0．05)，但两组HBV DNA阴转率、HBeAg阴转率及HBeAg／抗—HBe血清转换率均无显著性差异(P＞0．05)。治疗12个月时，甲乙两组ALT复常率和HBV DNA阴转率无显著性差异(P＞0．05)，甲组HBeAg阴转率及HBeAg／抗-HBe血清转换率均显著高于乙组(P＜0．05)。随访结束时，甲组从量复常率、HBV DNA阴转率、HBeAg阴转率及HBeAg／抗—HBe血清转换率均显著高于乙组(P＜0．05)。结论 拉米夫定与胸腺肽联合治疗CHB，疗效明显优于单用拉米夫定，是CHB患者安全有效的治疗方法。     

拉米夫定耐药慢性乙型肝炎患者改用或加用阿德福韦酯治疗48周疗效比较

目的观察拉米夫定(LAM)与阿德福韦酯(ADV)联合应用和单用ADV治疗LAM耐药HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者的疗效及安全性。方法收集2006年1月至2011年12月在本院就诊的LAM耐药HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者40例,单药组与联合组各20例,分别以ADV与LAM联合或单用ADV进行治疗。观察治疗24周、48周时的血清HBV DNA水平及转阴率、HBeAg转阴率、ALT复常率以及治疗过程中药物的不良反应和耐药性。组间比较计量资料采用t检验,计数资料采用卡方检验。结果两组患者在性别、年龄、治疗前的HBV DNA及ALT水平上差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗结束时联合组的血清HBV DNA转阴率和ALT复常率分别为90%及95%,而单药组的血清HBV DNA转阴率和ALT复常率分别为60%及65%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗结束时联合组血清HBeAg转阴率为45%,单药组为35%,两组比较差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.417,P=0.519)。结论 ADV联合LAM或ADV单药治疗LAM耐药HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者均有较好的临床疗效,但ADV与LAM联合治疗可提高HBV DNA转阴率及ALT复常率,其安全性良好,值得借鉴。