Improvement of liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis: 2 years of entecavir treatment

Usefulness of the Fibrosis-4 index and alanine aminotransferase at 1 year of nucleos(t)ide analog treatment for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM

Nucleos(t)ide analogs do not completely prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of a non-invasive liver fibrosis marker, the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, for predicting HCC development.

METHODS

Among a total of 882 chronically hepatitis B virus infection-infected patients who were treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs, 472 patients without HCC history whose FIB-4 at baseline and 1 year of treatment was obtained were evaluated for the incidence of HCC.

RESULTS

The median FIB-4 was 2.00 at baseline and was significantly reduced to 1.58 at 1 year (P < 0.001), but the reduction was small at 2 years or later. When a receiver operating characteristic analysis of FIB-4 was performed to predict HCC within 5 years, the area under the curve of FIB-4 at 1 year was higher than that at baseline (0.676 vs. 0.599). The HCC incidence was significantly higher in patients with FIB-4 ≥1.58 than in those with FIB-4 <1.58 (14.8% vs. 3.6% at 10 years, P < 0.001). Additionally, an abnormal alanine aminotransferase (≥31 U/L) at 1 year was an independent risk for HCC. When a fibrosis and alanine aminotransferase-1 (FAL-1) score was evaluated as an applicable number of FIB-4 ≥1.58, and alanine aminotransferase ≥31 as 0, 1, and 2, the HCC risk in patients with score 2 was significantly higher than in those with score 1 or score 0 (24.1% vs. 9.8% vs. 0.7% at 10 years, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

FIB-4 ≥1.58 and alanine aminotransferase ≥31 at 1 year of nucleos(t)ide analog was an independent risk factor for HCC development, and a score using these factors stratified the risk of HCC.

A Comprehensive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Patient-Centered Screening and Linkage to Care Strategies Targeting Microelimination of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Chongqing, China

Background and Aims

The likelihood of coinfection increases in regions where HBV is endemic because of the similar transmission route. China is another endemic nation, with 5.9% of the population being HBsAg-positive. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCV antibody positivity in HBsAg-positive subjects, HCV RNA positivity in anti-HCV positive subjects, and HBV/HCV coinfection with the hope of exploring hepatitis C microelimination using currently available therapies.

Method

12,500 HBsAg-positive serum samples were collected. All samples were screened for anti-HCV. Furthermore, positive samples were screened for HCV RNA. All patients with positive HCV RNA were followed up for suspicious transmission routes of HCV and linkage to care.

Results

44 out of 10,560 (0.4%) patients with positive HBsAg had detectable anti-HCV. There were 32 males and 12 females, with a statistical difference. 17 out of 44 were HCV RNA positive. Among them, 15 out of 38 patients were HCV RNA positive; 8 patients had started anti-HCV treatment with the DAA regimen, while the other 7 patients had not. After patient education, one patient had begun treatment and reached SVR12, while three patients still refused anti-HCV treatment.

Conclusion

The HCV/HBV coinfection prevalence was found to be lower in this study. Even though HBV and HCV share a somewhat similar transmission route, HBsAg-positive subjects may not be at high risk for HCV infection. The process of hepatitis C's microelimination could be accelerated by increasing patient awareness and education. This trail is registered with NCT03794791.

A Multi-Center, Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Phase III Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Antiviral Activity and Safety of DA-2802 (Tenofovir Disoproxil Orotate) and Viread (Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate) in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

BACKGROUND

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, Viread®) had been used as a standard treatment option of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DA-2802 (tenofovir disoproxil orotate) compared to TDF.

METHODS

The present study was a double blind randomized controlled trial. Patients with CHB were recruited from 25 hospitals in Korea and given DA-2802 at a dose of 319 mg once daily or Viread® at a dose of 300 mg once daily for 48 weeks from March 2017 to January 2019. Change in hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level at week 48 after dosing compared to baseline was the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary efficacy endpoints were proportions of subjects with undetectable HBV DNA, those with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and those with loss of hepatitis B envelop antigen (HBeAg), those with loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Adverse events (AEs) were also investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 122 patients (DA-2802 group: n = 61, Viread® group: n = 61) were used as full analysis set for efficacy analysis. Mean age, proportion of males, laboratory results and virologic characteristics were not different between the two groups. The change in HBV DNA level at week 48 from baseline was -5.13 ± 1.40 in the DA-2802 group and -4.97 ± 1.40 log10 copies/mL in the Viread® group. The analysis of primary endpoint using the nonparametric analysis of covariance showed statistically significant results (P < 0.001), which confirmed non-inferiority of DA-2802 to Viread® by a prespecified noninferiority margin of 1. The proportion of undetectable HBV DNA was 78.7% in the DA-2802 group and 75.4% in the Viread® group (P = 0.698). The proportion of subjects who had normal ALT levels was 75.4% in the DA-2802 group and 73.3% in the Viread® group (P = 0.795). The proportion of those with HBeAg loss was 8.1% in the DA-2802 group and 10.8% in the Viread® group (P = 1.000). No subject showed HBsAg loss. The frequency of AEs during treatment was similar between the two groups. Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity.

CONCLUSION

DA-2802 is considered an effective and safe treatment for patients with CHB.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02967939.

[The role of antiviral therapy in the management of patients with liver cirrhosis associated with chronic HBV and HCV infection]

The formation of the liver cirrhosis (LC) is an unfavorable event of the natural history of chronic liver diseases being accompanied by complications that often cause a fatal outcome. The study of the effectiveness of drugs that affect various etiopathogenetic mechanisms of this condition is an urgent problem of modern hepatology.The aim of the review was to show the role of antiviral therapy (AVT) in the management of patients with LC associated with chronic HBV (hepatitis B virus) and HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection.PubMed database, Google Scholar search engine, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, eLIBRARY.RU electronic scientific library, as well as the reference lists of articles were used to search for scientific articles. The relevant objectives of the review of the publications were identified for the period since 2000 up to 2021 by the search queries as following: «liver cirrhosis», «liver fibrosis», «chronic HBV infection», «chronic HCV infection», «portal hypertension», «treatment». The inclusion criteria were restricted to the management of patients with LC associated with chronic HBV and HCV infection.Current guidelines recommend indefinite treatment of patients with HBV-associated LC with nucleos(t)ide analogues regardless of serum HBV DNA levels, while the modern concept of using direct-acting antiviral drug combinations has become the standard treatment for HCV-associated cirrhosis. Studies have shown the ability of AVT to inhibit and reverse fibrotic processes in LC associated with chronic HBV and HCV infection. It has also been reported that HBV/HCV eradication prior to orthotopic liver transplantation improves long-term overall survival.This, in turn, can reduce the severity of portal hypertension and decrease the risk of associated complications, as well as normalize liver function. Thus, ensuring the availability of drugs for those in need of AVT will not only help prevent the development of LC, but also improve the quality of life and increase its expectancy of patients suffering from this disease.

Partial Virological Response after 2 Years of Entecavir Therapy Increases the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Cirrhosis

Background/Aims

The clinical significance of partial virological response (PVR) in patients undergoing antiviral therapy is not well known. This study investigated whether PVR after 2 years of entecavir (ETV) therapy is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in cirrhotic patients.

Methods

A total of 472 naïve patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhosis who were treated with ETV for at least 2 years were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical characteristics, laboratory data, PVR, and noninvasive fibrosis markers (aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio and FIB-4 index) at 2 years after ETV commencement were analyzed for HCC risk.

Results

After excluding those who developed HCC within 2 years of ETV therapy, 359 patients (mean age, 51±10 years; male 64.3%) were examined. During a median follow-up of 82 months, 80 patients developed HCC. In the univariate analysis, older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.056; p<0.001), PVR (HR, 2.536; p=0.002), higher aspartate aminotransferase (HR, 1.018; p=0.005), lower albumin level (HR, 0.463; p<0.001), lower platelet count (HR, 0.993; p=0.01), and higher FIB-4 index (HR, 1.141; p<0.001) at 2 years after ETV commencement were risk factors for HCC. In the multivariate analysis, older age (HR, 1.046; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.022 to 1.072; p<0.001), PVR (HR, 2.358; 95% CI, 1.310 to 4.245; p=0.004), and higher FIB-4 index (HR, 1.103; 95% CI, 1.035 to 1.177; p=0.003) were independent risk factors.

Conclusions

PVR and higher FIB-4 index after 2 years of ETV therapy were independent risk factors for HCC. Therefore, efforts to accomplish a complete virological response and reduce the FIB-4 index should be made. (Gut Liver 2021;15-439)

Present and Future Therapies for Chronic Hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains the leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality across the world. If left untreated, approximately one-third of these patients will progress to severe end-stage liver diseases including liver failure, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High level of serum HBV DNA is strongly associated with the development of liver failure, cirrhosis, and HCC. Therefore, antiviral therapy is crucial for the clinical management of CHB. Current antiviral drugs including nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) and interferon-α (IFN-α) can suppress HBV replication and reduce the progression of liver disease, thus improving the long-term outcomes of CHB patients. This chapter will discuss the standard and optimization antiviral therapies in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients, as well as in the special populations. The up-to-date advances in the development of new anti-HBV agents will be also discussed. With the combination of the current antiviral drugs and the newly developed antiviral agents targeting the different steps of the viral life cycle or the newly developed agents modulating the host immune responses, the ultimate eradication of HBV will be achieved in the future.

Durability of Sustained Virologic Response and Improvement of Fibrosis Markers after Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir Treatment in Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients: a Real Life and Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

The long-term data with direct acting antiviral agents were rare. This study investigated the durability of a sustained virologic response (SVR) and the improvement of fibrosis after daclatasvir and asunaprevir (DCV/ASV) treatment in genotype 1b (GT1b) hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients.

METHODS

A total of 288 HCV GT1b patients without baseline non-structural 5A (NS5A) resistance-associated substitution (RAS) treated with DCV/ASV were enrolled. Virologic response was measured at 12 weeks and 1 year after treatment completion. In cirrhotic patients, liver function, aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 index, fibrosis index (FI), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) at baseline and 1 year after treatment completion were evaluated.

RESULTS

SVR12 was obtained in 278 patients (96.5%). Six patients who checked NS5A RAS after treatment failure were RAS positive. Only one patient showed no durability of SVR. In cirrhotic patients who achieved SVR12 (n = 59), the changes of albumin (3.8 [2.2-4.7] to 4.3 [2.4-4.9] g/dL; P < 0.001), platelet count (99 [40-329] to 118 [40-399] × 10³/mm³; P < 0.001), APRI (1.8 [0.1-14.8] to 0.6 [0.1-4.8]; P < 0.001), FIB-4 index (5.45 [0.6-32.8] to 3.3 [0.4-12.2]; P < 0.001), FI (5.5 [0.6-32.8] to 3.3 [0.4-12.2]; P < 0.001), and LSM (17.2 [5.3-48.0] to 11.2 [3.7-28.1] kPa; P = 0.001) between baseline and 1 year after treatment completion were observed.

CONCLUSION

DCV/ASV treatment for HCV GT1b infected patients without RAS achieved high SVR rates and showed durable SVR. Cirrhotic patients who achieved SVR12 showed the improvement of liver function and fibrosis markers.

Derivation and external validation of a model to predict 2-year mortality risk of patients with advanced schistosomiasis after discharge

To date, no risk prediction tools have been developed to identify high mortality risk of patients with advanced schistosomiasis within 2 years after discharge. We aim to derive and validate a risk prediction model to be applied in clinical practice. The risk prediction model was derived from 1487 patients from Jingzhou and externally validated by 723 patients of Huangshi, two prefecture-level cities in Hubei province, China (from September 2014 to January 2015, with follow-up to January 2017). The baseline variables were collected. The mean age [SD] was 62.89 [10.38] years for the derivation cohort and 62.95 [12.22] years for the external validation cohort. The females accounted for 36.3% and 43.7% of the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. 8.27% patients (123/1487) in the derivation cohort and 7.75% patients (56/723) in the external validation cohort died within 2 years after discharge. We constructed 4 models based on the 7 selected variables: age, clinical classification, serum direct bilirubin (DBil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), alpha fetoprotein (AFP) at admission. In the external validation cohort, the multivariate model including 7 variables had a C statistic of 0.717 (95% CI, 0.646–0.788) and improved integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) value and net reclassification improvement (NRI) value compared to the other reduced models.

Therefore, a multivariate model was developed to predict the 2-year mortality risk for patients with advanced schistosomiasis after discharge. It could also help guide follow-up, aid prognostic assessment and inform resource allocation.

Longitudinal effects of Nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients and the utility of non-invasive fibrosis markers during treatment: A single-center experience for up to 17 years

BACKGROUND

Fibrosis regression has been associated with nucleoside analogue (NA) treatment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Although non-invasive fibrosis markers have been evaluated in CHB, their utility for monitoring on-treatment histologic regression has not been evaluated.

AIMS

To characterize improvements in disease severity and the utility of non-invasive biomarkers in CHB NA treated patients.

METHODS

Histology, labs, AST-to-platelet ratio index, and Fibrosis-4 (Fib-4) from treatment-naïve CHB patients were evaluated at baseline and longitudinally. Relative change from baseline to various time points during treatment were evaluated. Correlative analysis of APRI and Fib-4 with histology was performed longitudinally.

RESULTS

80 CHB patients (84% male, median age 45 (IQR 32, 54)) with histology up to 17 years (median 6(IQR 3.9, 8.0)) years were studied. Median baseline Ishak fibrosis was 3 (IQR 2, 4), histologic activity index (HAI) inflammation was 9 (IQR 7, 11), and AUROC of fibrosis markers for detecting cirrhosis (Ishak ≥ 5) was >0.64. HAI improved at a rate of 54% during year 1 and 37% in year 2, both greater than in the remaining follow-up periods. Within the first year, fibrosis improved by 35%, greater than all other time periods. Non-invasive biomarkers began to correlate with histology beyond 4 years (APRI: 4-6 years: r = 0.33, p = 0.03; ≥6 years: r = 0.41, p = 0.009; Fib-4: ≥6 years: r = 0.35, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Early dynamic changes in histology occur in CHB patients on NA followed by linear improvements. Non-invasive fibrosis biomarkers do not capture these dynamic changes and may demonstrate clinical utility beyond 4 years of treatment.

Changes in APRI and FIB-4 in HBeAg-negative treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients with significant liver histological lesions receiving 5-year entecavir therapy

According to guidelines, antiviral therapy for adults with immune-active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) should be adopted to decrease the risk of liver-related complications. Fibrosis assessment during antiviral treatment is a key step in antiviral therapy evaluation. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for assessing the degree of liver necroinflammation and fibrosis. However, because of its cost and the risk of life-threatening complications, performing a liver biopsy more than once after long-term effective treatment is difficult. In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis during 5 years of entecavir (ETV) treatment using noninvasive fibrosis markers in hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-negative treatment-naive CHB patients who require antiviral therapy. A total of 303 HBeAg-negative treatment-naive patients were enrolled in this study. Liver biopsy was performed before initiation of antiviral therapy. The diagnosis of CHB was made according to Chinese guidelines for the management of CHB. Patients requiring antiviral therapy (liver fibrosis stage ≥ F2, METAVIR scoring system) were treated with ETV for at least 5 years. These patients were followed up at 6-month intervals. A clinical and virological evaluation was performed at baseline and again at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months during ETV treatment. Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index were used to assess dynamic changes in liver fibrosis in HBeAg-negative CHB patients after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of ETV treatment. All enrolled patients underwent liver biopsy at baseline. Using the METAVIR fibrosis stages, there were 107, 125, 54, and 17 patients in F1, F2, F3, and F4 stages, respectively. The APRI and FIB-4 indexes enabled the correct identification of patients with severe fibrosis (METAVIR F3-F4), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72-0.83) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.82), respectively. The APRI values decreased significantly in F2 and F3 patients after 1 year of ETV therapy (P < 0.01). However, for F4 patients, APRI values decreased significantly at year 3 (P < 0.05). The FIB-4 values of F2, F3, and F4 patients who received ETV treatment were significantly decreased after 1, 3, and 5 years of ETV therapy, respectively (P < 0.05). APRI and FIB-4 values decreased significantly during 5-year ETV treatment in HBeAg-negative CHB patients, indicating that these noninvasive fibrosis tests might be useful for monitoring improvement in liver fibrosis and assessing treatment efficacy during long-term ETV treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Entecavir 0. 5 mg in Treating Naive Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients in Egypt: Five Years of Real Life Experience

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) nucleos(t)ide-naive Egyptian patients.

Methods

Forty-eight CHB patients on ETV were included. Males comprised 83.3% (40 cases), while females comprised 16.7% (eight cases). Minimum age was 19 years, while maximum age was 64 years. Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-negative cases were 60.4%. HBeAg-positive cases were 39.6%. Factors including sex, positive HBeAg, baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level, baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were evaluated in terms of their predictive role in treatment response, which was defined as a serum HBV DNA decrease of < 10 IU/mL.

Results

Mean age of patients was 38.2 years; males were 83.3% and females were 16.7%. HBeAg-negative cases were 60.4%, while HBeAg-positive cases were 39.6%. Mean baseline DNA level was 44 × 10⁶ IU/mL. Ultrasound results showed 14 cases had hepatomegaly, 10 cases had bright liver, seven cases had coarse liver, and eight cases had cirrhosis. Of the cases, 45.8% showed a negative PCR after the first 6 months of therapy to reach 64.6% by the end of the first year. HBV DNA undetectability reached 91.3% and 100% after 4 and 5 years, respectively for those who completed the study period. ALT reduction started after 6 months of treatment and reached 53.37% after 5 years. Similarly AST showed the same pattern of decline and reached 54.37% after 5 years. Only two cases achieved HBeAg seroconversion. Three patients experienced virological breakthrough and the three cases shared similar characteristics of being less than 40 years, with baseline HBV DNA of ≥ 10⁵ IU/mL and positive HBeAg. None of the cases showed hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion.

Conclusion

ETV proved to have a potent antiviral efficacy and safety in nucleoside/tide-naive Egyptian patients. Rate of HBV DNA undetectability was higher in patients above 40 years of age and in patients who initially had a low viral load. ETV was well tolerated during the treatment period with a good overall safety profile.

Reversal of liver cirrhosis: current evidence and expectations

In the past, liver cirrhosis was considered an irreversible phenomenon. However, many experimental data have provided evidence of the reversibility of liver fibrosis. Moreover, multiple clinical studies have also shown regression of fibrosis and reversal of cirrhosis on repeated biopsy samples. As various etiologies are associated with liver fibrosis via integrated signaling pathways, a comprehensive understanding of the pathobiology of hepatic fibrogenesis is critical for improving clinical outcomes. Hepatic stellate cells play a central role in hepatic fibrogenesis upon their activation from a quiescent state. Collagen and other extracellular material components from activated hepatic stellate cells are deposited on, and damage, the liver parenchyma and vascular structures. Hence, inactivation of hepatic stellate cells can lead to enhancement of fibrolytic activity and could be a potential target of antifibrotic therapy. In this regard, continued efforts have been made to develop better treatments for underlying liver diseases and antifibrotic agents in multiple clinical and therapeutic trials; the best results may be expected with the integration of such evidence. In this article, we present the underlying mechanisms of fibrosis, current experimental and clinical evidence of the reversibility of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, and new agents with therapeutic potential for liver fibrosis.

Recent advances in treatment of chronic hepatitis B with entecavir

Entecavir (ETV) is a potent hepatitis B virus inhibitor with a high barrier to resistance, and it has been recommended as one of the first-line drugs for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by guidelines from several international and national societies. This paper reviews the recent advances in the treatment of CHB with ETV, in terms of treatment adherence, efficacy in the treatment of various kinds of patients with CHB, management of patients with partial virological response, viral resistance or treatment failure to ETV, treatment cessation, sequential or combination therapy with ETV and pegylated interferon, as well as the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Relationship between Serum Bilirubin and Elevated Fibrotic Indices among HBV Carriers: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Chinese Population

The study probed the association between bilirubin and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and progression. A cross-sectional analysis of 28,500 middle aged and elderly Chinese participants was performed to analyze the differences of bilirubin in terms of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive or negative and the correlation between bilirubin and severity of hepatic fibrosis estimated by non-invasive indices. Bilirubin was significantly higher in the HBsAg (+) group than the HBsAg (−) group. Higher bilirubin levels were consistently associated with elevated liver fibrosis indices among HBsAg carriers. Compared with quartile 1 of total bilirubin (TBil), the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for elevated fibrosis indices of quartile 4 were 2.24 (95% CIs, 1.57–3.21) estimated by fibrosis 4 score (FIB-4) and 2.22 (95% CIs, 1.60–3.08) estimated by aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI). In addition, direct bilirubin (DBil) had a stronger association with elevated liver fibrosis indices than did indirect bilirubin (IBil). Furthermore, the relationship between DBil and elevated fibrosis indices was more robust among participants who were female, overweight or had central fat distribution. These findings suggested that bilirubin levels, especially DBil, were independently associated with an increased risk of increased fibrosis indices.