Subclinical and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Coinfected With HIV and Chronic Hepatitis B Virus From Clinical Outpatient Centers in France: Protocol for an Ambispective, Longitudinal Cohort Study

Virological and serological outcomes in people with HIV-HBV coinfection who had discontinued tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy: Results from a prospective cohort study

Background and Aims

Given advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), some people with HIV are transitioned to non-tenofovir-containing ART; the implications for people with HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) are unknown. We characterized HBV-related outcomes in people with HIV-HBV coinfection while not taking tenofovir-containing ART.

Methods

We analyzed participants from the French HIV-HBV Cohort Study in three treatment groups: (1) continuous tenofovir; (2) discontinued tenofovir; (3) never initiated tenofovir. We examined virological and clinical characteristics during follow-up. We assessed determinants of HBV DNA >2000 IU/mL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >2x upper limit of normal separately while participants were off tenofovir using univariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations.

Results

Among 192 participants, 161 (83.9 %) were on continuous tenofovir, 22 (11.5 %) discontinued tenofovir, and 9 (4.7 %) never initiated tenofovir during a median follow-up of 14.5 years (IQR = 10.5-14.8). The median proportion of within-participant visits with undetectable HBV DNA was 96.0 % (IQR = 75.0-100) in the continuous group, 100 % (IQR = 84.0-100) in the discontinued tenofovir group (while off tenofovir), and 100 % (IQR = 95.2-100) in the never initiated tenofovir group. Determinants of HBV DNA >2000 IU/mL while people were off tenofovir were detectable HIV RNA (p = 0.041), lower CD4+ T-cell count (p = 0.027), HBeAg positive serology (p = 0.004) and positive hepatitis D serology (p = 0.001). ALT elevation was associated with positive hepatitis C antibody serology (p = 0.012).

Conclusions

This proof-of-concept study shows that selected people with HIV-HBV coinfection may not lose virologic control of HBV when off tenofovir. HBV virologic activity while off tenofovir may be more closely associated with uncontrolled HIV infection and positive HBeAg serology.

Changes and gaps of global and regional disease burden of hepatitis B infection in children younger than 5 years old between 2015 and 2019: A real-world data review

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been declared an ongoing health threat, especially infections among children. We compared and updated the disease burden of HBV infection and the effectiveness of vaccination among children younger than 5 years to offer indications for hepatitis B prevention across the world. The country-level data on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the coverages of hepatitis B vaccine birth-dose (HepB-BD), three-dose series (HepB3), income level, population density/size, and human development index were collected from open access databases including WHO, UNICEF, and World Bank. Comparison of the prevalence of HBsAg under 5 years old between 2015 and 2019 based on vaccination coverages was conducted by the gamma generalized linear mixed model. Globally, more than 6.3 million HBV infections were estimated in children under 5 years in 2019, compared to 10.1 million in 2015 within the 179 countries involved. The pooled average prevalence of HBsAg among children younger than 5 years decreased from 1.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-1.8) to 0.9% (95% CI: 0.7-1.2). The rate difference or rate ratio was -0.5% (95% CI: -0.6% to -0.3%) or 0.51(95% CI: 0.44-0.58), respectively. Countries from the African region or with lower income/population density/human development indexes bore the most significant disease burden of hepatitis B. Higher coverages of hepatitis B vaccine birth-dose or primary series correlated with significant HBsAg prevalence decreases and much-decreased ratio, independently. Hepatitis B prevention among children under 5 years has significantly been achieved while remaining the most life-threatening disease burden, unequally distributed worldwide. The hepatitis B vaccination should be prioritized for all newborns, especially in those resource-constrained countries or regions.

Profiles of liver fibrosis evolution during long-term tenofovir treatment in HIV-positive patients coinfected with hepatitis B

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Data on liver fibrosis evolution and its involvement in liver-related morbidity are scarce in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection during treatment. We identified profiles of liver fibrosis evolution in coinfected patients undergoing tenofovir (TDF).

METHODS

We included 169 HIV-HBV-coinfected patients on TDF-based antiretroviral therapy. Virological and clinical data were obtained at TDF-initiation and every 6-12 months. From data on non-invasive liver fibrosis assessments collected yearly (FibroTest®), we established clusters of individuals with similar liver fibrosis evolution using group-based trajectory models.

RESULTS

Four profiles of liver fibrosis evolution were established from a median follow-up of 7.6 years (IQR = 3.1-13.1): low fibrosis with no progression (29.6%, profile A), low fibrosis with progression (22.5%, profile B), moderate fibrosis with high fluctuation (39.6%, profile C), and cirrhosis with no regression (8.3%, profile D). When compared to profile A, baseline HBeAg-positive status was associated with profiles B (P = .007) and C (P = .004), older age with profiles C (P < .001) and D (P = .001), exposure to second-generation protease inhibitors with profile C (P = .004), and CD4⁺ <500/mm³ at the last visit with profiles C (P = .02) and D (P = .002). Incident liver-related events occurred in profiles other than A (B, n = 1/38; C, n = 6/67; D, n = 3/14) and all five cases of hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in profiles C (n = 2) and D (n = 3).

CONCLUSIONS

TDF-treated HIV-HBV coinfected individuals do not seem to benefit from comparable levels of liver fibrosis regression as in HBV mono-infection. Liver-related morbidity occurs mainly in those with fluctuating or consistently high fibrosis levels.

Persistent HBV replication and serological response during up to 15 years of tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy in HIV/HBV-coinfected patients: a multicentre prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the extent of hepatitis B virus (HBV) suppression and its association with seroclearance of hepatitis 'e' antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in HIV/HBV-coinfected patients undergoing long-term tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART).

METHODS

We prospectively followed 165 HIV/HBV-coinfected patients undergoing tenofovir-based ART. Serum HBV-DNA viral loads and HBeAg and HBsAg status were obtained at tenofovir initiation and every 6-12 months. We calculated the proportion achieving virological response (VR, <60 IU/mL) during follow-up. We also calculated rates of HBeAg- and HBsAg-seroclearance, which were compared between those who achieved versus never achieved VR during follow-up using an Exact binomial test.

RESULTS

During a median 8.1 years (IQR = 4.0-13.2) of tenofovir treatment, 152 (92.1%) patients were able to achieve VR and 13 (7.9%) never achieved VR (median HBV-DNA at the end of follow-up = 608 IU/mL, range = 67-52 400 000). The prevalence of individuals with detectable HBV-DNA (≥60 IU/mL) decreased during tenofovir treatment: 15.1% (n = 14/93) at 5 years, 3.2% (n = 2/62) at 10 years and, 3.2% (n = 1/31) at 15 years. 44/96 HBeAg-positive patients (6.15/100 person-years) had HBeAg-seroclearance and 13/165 patients overall (0.87/100 person-years) had HBsAg-seroclearance. No difference in HBeAg-seroclearance was observed between those who achieved versus never achieved VR (7.4 versus 3.7/100 person-years, P = 0.33), while HBsAg-seroclearance was only observed in those with VR (1.0 versus 0/100 person-years, P = 0.49; respectively). Individuals with VR also had a higher frequency of undetectable HIV-RNA during treatment (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

During long-term tenofovir-based ART for HIV/HBV coinfection, persistent HBV viraemia is apparent, but becomes less frequent over time. HBsAg-seroclearance only occurred in those with full HBV and relatively high HIV suppression.

Effect of viral replication and liver fibrosis on all-cause mortality in HIV/HBV coinfected individuals: a retrospective analysis of a 15-year longitudinal cohort

BACKGROUND

In individuals co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV), widespread tenofovir (TDF)-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to substantial decreases in HBV-DNA and HIV-RNA detection. However, the link between viral replication, liver fibrosis, and mortality remains unclear.

METHODS

300 HIV-HBV co-infected individuals undergoing ART were prospectively followed. Virological and clinical data were obtained at baseline and every 6-12 months. We quantified the association between HBV-DNA, HIV-RNA, and liver fibrosis with risk of all-cause mortality using a joint longitudinal-survival model. Viral detection, viral loads, and time-averaged cumulative viral loads of HIV and HBV were modeled as three separate exposures.

RESULTS

During a median 10.5 years (IQR=4.0-14.6), the proportion undergoing TDF-containing ART (baseline=18.7%, end of follow-up=79.1%) and with undetectable HBV-DNA (baseline=36.7%, end of follow-up=94.8%) substantially increased. HIV-RNA was mostly undetectable during follow-up (76.6%). 42 participants died (incidence rate=1.30/100person-years, 95%CI=0.96-1.76). The leading causes of death were non-AIDS/non-liver-related malignancies (28.6%), followed by liver-related (16.7%), AIDS-related (16.7%), and other (16.7%). All-cause mortality was associated with HBV-DNA viral load (adjusted-HR per log10IU/mL=1.41, 95%CI=1.04-1.93, p=0.03) or time-averaged cumulative HBV-DNA (adjusted-HR per log10IU-years=1.37, 95%CI=1.03-1.83, p=0.03), but not undetectable HBV-DNA (adjusted-HR=0.30, 95%CI=0.08-1.09, p=0.08). Advanced liver fibrosis at baseline was also associated with increased mortality rates (adjusted-HR=2.35, 95%CI=1.16-4.76, p=0.02). No significant association between HIV-RNA replication and mortality was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent and historical HBV replication and liver fibrosis are important drivers of all-cause mortality in largely TDF-treated HIV-HBV co-infected individuals, despite one-fifth of deaths being liver-related. HBV-DNA and liver fibrosis remain important prognostic indicators for this patient population.