Serum hepatitis B surface antigen kinetics in severe reactivation of hepatitis B e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B patients receiving nucleoside/nucleotide analogues

Kinetics of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen in patients with rheumatic disease and chronic hepatitis B receiving biologic agents

The effect of biologic treatment on quantitative Hepatitis B surface Antigen (qHBsAg) levels and HBsAg clearance in rheumatic patients with chronic HBV infection has not been well studied. We prospectively followed rheumatic patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection (n = 28) treated with biologics and oral antivirals, categorized into patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB, group A n = 13) and chronic HBV infection (group B n = 15) and matched them to appropriate non-rheumatic controls. qHBsAg kinetics were serially measured and compared between groups. No HBV reactivation (HBVr) was recorded during the 108.25 patient-year follow-up. Among patients with CHB, the annual rapid qHBsAg decline (i.e. decline >0.5 log₁₀  IU/mL/year) as well as HBsAg clearance did not differ between rheumatic patients [n = 4 (32.7%), n = 1 (7.7%)] and controls [n = 6 (28.4%), p = .726 and n = 2 (7.7%), p = .818, respectively]. In contrast, there was a slower annual qHBsAg decline in rheumatic patients with chronic HBV compared to non-rheumatic controls (-0.04 vs -0.13 log₁₀  IU/mL at year 1, p = .019) with no cases of rapid qHBsAg decline or HBsAg clearance in rheumatic patients (0%) compared to a cumulative incidence of 24% and a rate of 20%, respectively in controls. In biologic-treated rheumatic patients with HBeAg-negative HBV receiving antiviral prophylaxis, there was slower qHBsAg decline, lower cumulative rates of rapid qHBsAg decline and HBsAg clearance compared to non-rheumatic controls.

Highly significant differences in HBsAg kinetics among patients with two types of hepatitis B flare, with and without retreatment

BACKGROUND

Off-therapy hepatitis flare may be detrimental or, conversely, facilitate hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline. Retreatment decisions are crucial.

METHODS

HBsAg was quantified before and during flares, at peak/retreatment start and at Months 6 and 12 in 336 entecavir/tenofovir-retreated and 105 non-retreated hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients. Increasing HBsAg during ALT flare defined a 'virus-dominating flare' and decreasing HBsAg a 'host-dominating flare'.

RESULTS

Two hundred and eighty-eight retreated patients with a virus-dominating flare showed greater 1 year HBsAg decline (-1.0 versus -0.01 log10 IU/mL; P < 0.0001), more frequent rapid decline (69.8% versus 8.3%; P < 0001) and higher 3 year incidence of HBsAg < 100 IU/mL (32% versus 12%; P = 0.026) than 48 patients with a host-dominating flare, of whom 16 (33.3%) showed 3.8-fold (2 to 52-fold) HBsAg rebound on retreatment (versus 2/288; P < 0.0001). Compared with non-retreated controls, 1 year HBsAg decline was greater (-1.0 versus -0.47 log10 IU/mL; P < 0.0001) and faster (69.8% versus 42.5%; P < 0.0001) in patients with a virus-dominating flare, whereas 1 year HBsAg decline (-0.01 versus -0.16 log10 IU/mL) and 3 year HBsAg loss rate (0% versus 21%; P = 0.009) were lower in patients with a host-dominating flare.

CONCLUSIONS

Entecavir/tenofovir retreatment effectively decreases HBsAg level in patients with a virus-dominating flare but is ineffective/worse in patients with a host-dominating flare. These results support the use of combined HBsAg/ALT kinetics for the decision to retreat patients with a virus-dominating flare and withhold retreatment for patients with a host-dominating flare.

Serum hepatitis B core-related antigen predicts hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a novel serum viral marker. Recent studies showed that its level correlates with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of serum HBsAg and HBcrAg levels at baseline to predict HCC.

METHODS

1400 CHB patients who received nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) treatment since December 2005 were included. Their stored serum samples at baseline were retrieved to measure HBsAg and HBcrAg levels. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of HCC.

RESULTS

85 (6.1%) patients developed HCC during a mean (± SD) follow-up duration of 45 ± 20 months. Serum HBcrAg level above 2.9 log10 U/mL at baseline was an independent factor for HCC in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients by multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratio 2.13, 95% CI 1.10-4.14, P = 0.025). HBcrAg above 2.9 log₁₀ U/mL stratified the risk of HCC in HBeAg-negative patients with high PAGE-B score (P = 0.024 by Kaplan-Meier analysis), and possibly in cirrhotic patients (P = 0.08). Serum HBsAg level did not show any correlation with the risk of HCC in all patients or any subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Serum HBcrAg level predicts the risk of HCC accurately in NA-treated HBeAg-negative CHB patients.

The safety of stopping nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

The rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance after stopping nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) in European (19% in 2 years) and Asian (13% in 6 years) patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) vary dramatically. We evaluated the incidence of hepatitis flare and HBsAg seroclearance in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative Chinese CHB patients who had stopped NA.

METHODS

This was a territory-wide retrospective study in Hong Kong. We identified HBeAg-negative CHB patients from January 2000 to December 2017 who had stopped NA treatment for more than 3 months. Hepatitis flare was defined as ALT >2×ULN.

RESULTS

The 1076 patients were predominantly middle-aged men (mean age 52 years, male 74.8%) when starting NA; they stopped NA after 82 ± 35 months of treatment. At 44.3 ± 24.6 months after stopping NA, 147 (13.6%) patients had hepatitis flare, which led to resumption of NA; whereas 77 (7.2%) patients had flare but did not resume NA. Decompensation occurred in 7/914 (0.8%) patients. A total of 695 (64.6%) patients remained on NA treatment at the last visit. Eleven patients had achieved HBsAg seroclearance (6 of them had hepatitis flare and 1 of these 6 patients achieved HBsAg seroclearance after NA was restarted). Hepatic events developed in 75/695 (10.8%) patients who had NA resumed vs 43/381 (11.3%) patients who did not resume NA (P = .677).

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatitis flare and retreatment were common in HBeAg-negative CHB patients who stopped NA treatment; whereas HBsAg seroclearance rarely occurred. Stopping NA to achieve functional cure should not be recommended at this moment.

Clinical utility of HBV surface antigen quantification in HBV e antigen-negative chronic HBV infection

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious problem owing to its worldwide distribution and potential adverse sequelae that include cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Current antiviral therapies have much improved outcomes, but few patients achieve the ultimate goal of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss (functional cure). As hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic HBV infection is the final phase prior to HBsAg loss, the management of patients in this phase together with quantification of HBsAg has attracted increasing clinical and research interest. This Review integrates the findings from research in HBsAg kinetics and discusses how they might inform our understanding and management of HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection. Studies have shown that HBsAg levels are highly predictive of the presence of inactive HBV infection and that serial changes in HBsAg levels might predict HBsAg loss within 1-3 years. Data also suggest that quantitative HBsAg monitoring is important during hepatitis flare and antiviral therapy, especially in the timing of the decision to stop therapy and to start off-therapy retreatment. These findings have shed new light on the natural course of HBV infection and might lead to optimization of the management of HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection and contribute to the paradigm shift from indefinite to finite therapy for patients with HBV infection.

Great and rapid HBsAg decline in patients with on-treatment hepatitis flare in early phase of potent antiviral therapy

HBsAg decline during nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy in chronic hepatitis B with lower pretherapy ALT is usually small and slow. This study aimed to investigate why ~10% of such patients showed "rapid HBsAg decline" ≥0.5 log₁₀ IU/mL by month 6 of therapy. Patients with persistent pretherapy ALT <5X ULN who had qHBsAg at baseline, months 6 and 12 of entecavir or tenofovir therapy were studied. "On-treatment ALT elevation" was defined as >10% increase above baseline to >2X ULN during first 6 months of therapy. Of the 256 patients treated, 51 experienced transient "on-treatment ALT elevation" [group A], including 30 (11.7%) with ALT elevation to 2-5X ULN [group A-1] and 21 (8.2%) flared to >5X ULN [group A-2]. The magnitude of qHBsAg decline and rate of "rapid HBsAg decline" by month 6 was significantly greater and more frequent in group A (-0.446 vs -0.042 log₁₀ IU/mL; 45.1 vs 8.8%, respectively, P = 0.000) than in the remaining 205 patients without on-treatment ALT elevation (group B), being greatest in patients with hepatitis flare (group A-2: -0.559 log₁₀ IU/mL and 57.1%, respectively). In patients with therapy ≥2 years, patients with "on-treatment ALT elevation" also showed significantly greater annual HBsAg decline, more frequent to <100 IU/mL and 4 times higher HBsAg seroclearance rate. "On-treatment ALT elevation," especially flare >5X ULN, during entecavir therapy or tenofovir therapy may enhance/accelerate HBsAg decline, suggesting the effect of immune restoration upon potent viral suppression.

Mechanisms behind TB, HBV, and HIV chronic infections

Immune evasion is critical for pathogens to maintain their presence within hosts, giving rise to chronic infections. Here, we examine the immune evasion strategies employed by three pathogens with high medical burden, namely, tuberculosis, HIV and HBV. Establishment of chronic infection by these pathogens is a multi-step process that involves an interplay between restriction factor, innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Engagement of these host defences is intimately linked with specific steps within the pathogen replication cycles. Critical host factors are increasingly recognized to regulate immune evasion and susceptibility to disease. Fuelled by innovative technology development, the understanding of these mechanisms provides critical knowledge for rational design of vaccines and therapeutic immune strategies.

α-Fetoprotein level-dependent early hepatitis B surface antigen decline during entecavir therapy in chronic hepatitis B with hepatitis flare

OBJECTIVES

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reduction during nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy is related to ALT level. ALT reflects hepatocytolysis while α-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥100 ng/mL during hepatitis flare reflects more extensive hepatocytolysis (bridging hepatic necrosis). The impact of AFP levels on early HBsAg kinetics during entecavir therapy was investigated.

METHODS

HBsAg level was measured at baseline and months 6 and 12 of entecavir therapy in 149 chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatitis flare, defined as ALT ≥5× upper limit of normal (ULN), and 58 patients with ALT <5× ULN.

RESULTS

There was a significantly greater HBsAg reduction in an ALT (<5, 5-10, 10-20 and ≥20× ULN, P = 0.001) and AFP (<20, 20-99 and ≥100 ng/mL, P = 0.000) level-dependent manner. In hepatitis flares with a peak AFP level ≥20 ng/mL, the differences in HBsAg reduction across all ALT levels became non-significant. HBsAg reduction was greater in genotype B- than genotype C-infected patients with baseline ALT ≥20× ULN, but the difference became non-significant in those with peak AFP ≥100 ng/mL. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that AFP level ≥100 ng/mL, baseline HBsAg level and genotype B were independent significant factors for greater HBsAg decline at month 6 of entecavir therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

During entecavir therapy, early HBsAg reduction increased in an AFP and ALT level-dependent manner, suggesting the impact of hepatocytolysis rather than nucleos(t)ide analogue per se. Notably, a higher AFP level during hepatitis flare, reflecting more extensive hepatic necrosis, was a more powerful factor than ALT and genotype for greater HBsAg decline.

Hepatic flares promote rapid decline of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in patients with HBsAg seroclearance: A long-term follow-up study

AIM

Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance is one of the ultimate goals of management of chronic hepatitis B. We investigated the kinetics of serum HBsAg before HBsAg seroclearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 392 Japanese chronic hepatitis B patients who had been followed for 5 years or more between 1980 and 2000. Serum HBsAg levels were measured annually using chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.

RESULTS

During a median follow up of 14 years, 50 patients demonstrated HBsAg seroclearance (annual incidence rate, 0.91%). Multivariate analysis with baseline characteristics revealed that HBsAg of less than 3.3 log IU/mL (hazard ratio [HR], 2.22; P = 0.008) and treatment with nucleoside/nucleotide analog (HR, 0.12; P = 0.001) were independent predictive factors for seroclearance. The median HBsAg levels at 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1 year prior to seroclearance were 3.89, 2.84, 1.84, 0.78 and -1.10 log IU/mL, respectively. The rapid decline group, comprising patients who achieved HBsAg seroclearance within 5 years after confirmed HBsAg levels of 2 log IU/mL, demonstrated: (i) high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels; and (ii) a low frequency of liver cirrhosis progression. A significant reduction in annual HBsAg levels was found in years marked by at least one ALT flare (ALT ≥200 IU/L) (flare [+], n = 62) than in those without (flare [-], n = 323) (0.29 vs 0.17 log IU/mL/year, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Hepatic flares promoted rapid declines and greater annual reductions of HBsAg levels in patients with HBsAg seroclearance.

Serum interferon-inducible protein 10 levels predict hepatitis B s antigen seroclearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance is regarded as the optimal virological end-point.

AIM

To investigate the dynamic changes in serum cytokine levels around the time of HBsAg seroclearance.

METHODS

This was a case-control study. Consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who lost HBsAg were matched with those remained positive for HBsAg with same age, gender, HBeAg status and presence of cirrhosis in 1:2 ratio. Relevant serum cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-21 interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10)] were assayed at the time (Year 0) and 3 years before (Year -3) HBsAg seroclearance.

RESULTS

Seventy-one and 142 CHB patients who did and did not achieve HBsAg seroclearance were included. Mean age was 48 ± 11 years; 76% were male, 20% had positive HBeAg, 99 (46%) patients received anti-viral therapy, and mean baseline HBV DNA was 3.78 ± 2.28 log IU/mL vs. 4.36 ± 2.13 log IU/mL respectively (P = 0.05). In those who achieved HBsAg seroclearance, serum IL-15 and GM-CSF levels decreased significantly from Year -3 to Year 0 (P = 0.017 and 0.05 respectively). When compared to controls, only serum IP-10 level was significantly lower at Year 0 than at Year -3 in patients with HBsAg seroclearance. Lower serum IP-10 level at Year 0 was the only factor associated with HBsAg seroclearance. There was no correlation between serum IP-10 and HBsAg levels around the time of HBsAg seroclearance.

CONCLUSION

Lower serum IP-10 level at Year 0 was the only factor associated with HBsAg seroclearance.

Treatment cessation of entecavir in Asian patients with hepatitis B e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B: a multicentre prospective study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The off-treatment durability of nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy in Asian hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in predicting off-treatment durability has not been well investigated.

METHODS

Following Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines, entecavir was stopped in Asian HBeAg negative patients treated for ≥ 2 years with undetectable HBV DNA levels on ≥ 3 separate occasions 6 months apart before treatment cessation. HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were prospectively monitored every 6-12 weeks for 48 weeks. Entecavir was restarted if there was virologic relapse (defined as HBV DNA >2000IU/mL).

RESULT

184 patients (mean age 53.9 years, 67.9% male) were recruited. The cumulative rate of virologic relapse at 24 and 48 weeks was 74.2% and 91.4%, respectively. The median HBV DNA level at virologic relapse was 11000 (range 2115 to >1.98×10(8)) IU/mL. 42 (25.8%) patients had elevated alanine aminotransferase (median level 97 U/L, range 37-1058 U/L) during virologic relapse. Mean rate of off-treatment HBsAg decline was 0.018 (± 0.456) log IU/mL/year. No patients cleared HBsAg. There was no correlation between off-treatment serial HBsAg and HBV DNA levels (r=-0.026, p=0.541). HBsAg levels at the time of entecavir commencement, entecavir cessation and the subsequent rate of HBsAg reduction were not associated with virologic relapse (all p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Entecavir cessation in Asian HBeAg negative CHB resulted in high rates of virologic relapse, suggesting nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy should be continued indefinitely until the recognised treatment endpoint of HBsAg seroclearance.