Efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate therapy in nucleoside-analogue naive Iranian patients treated for chronic hepatitis B

Whole genome analysis of hepatitis B virus before and during long-term therapy in chronic infected patients: Molecular characterization, impact on treatment and liver disease progression

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious public health concern worldwide despite the availability of an efficient vaccine and the major improvements in antiviral treatments. The aim of the present study is to analyze the mutational profile of the HBV whole genome in ETV non-responder chronic HBV patients, in order to investigate antiviral drug resistance, immune escape, and liver disease progression to Liver Cirrhosis (LC) or Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Blood samples were collected from five chronic hepatitis B patients. For each patient, two plasma samples were collected, before and during the treatment. Whole genome sequencing was performed using Sanger technology. Phylogenetic analysis comparing the studied sequences with reference ones was used for genotyping. The mutational profile was analyzed by comparison with the reference sequence M32138. Genotyping showed that the studied strains belong to subgenotypes D1, D7, and D8. The mutational analysis showed high genetic variability. In the RT region of the polymerase gene, 28 amino acid (aa) mutations were detected. The most significant mutations were the pattern rtL180M + rtS202G + rtM204V, which confer treatment resistance. In the S gene, 35 mutations were detected namely sP120T, sT126S, sG130R, sY134F, sS193L, sI195M, and sL216stop were previously described to lead to vaccine, immunotherapy, and/or diagnosis escape. In the C gene, 34 mutations were found. In particular, cG1764A, cC1766G/T, cT1768A, and cC1773T in the BCP; cG1896A and cG1899A in the precore region and cT12S, cE64D, cA80T, and cP130Q in the core region were associated with disease progression to LC and/or HCC. Other mutations were associated with viral replication increase including cT1753V, cG1764A/T, cC1766G/T, cT1768A, and cC1788G in the BCP as well as cG1896A and cG1899A in the precore region. In the X gene, 30 aa substitutions were detected, of which substitutions xT36D, xP46S, xA47T, xI88F, xA102V, xI127T, xK130M, xV131I, and xF132Y were previously described to lead to LC and/or HCC disease progression. In conclusion, our results show high genetic variability in the long-term treatment of chronic HBV patients causing several effects. This could contribute to guiding national efforts to optimize relevant HBV treatment management in order to achieve the global hepatitis elimination goal by 2030.

Effectiveness and Safety of Low Dose of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Malagasy Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Background

Accessibility of full dose daily of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is limited in Madagascar with an estimated cost well above the purchasing power of Malagasy population.

Objective

The study is aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of low-dose tenofovir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

This prospective cohort study from January 2018 to December 2020 was conducted in the Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, University Hospital Joseph Raseta Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar. The patients enrolled in the study received low dose of TDF 900 mg/week (300 mg daily, three days per week).

Results

A total of 45 patients (male/female: 31/14) were included. The mean age was 45.1 ± 11.5 years. Fifteen patients were nucleos(t)ide (NA)-naïve, and 30 patients had prior NA therapy (NA-experienced). Thirty patients were HBeAg positive. A complete virological response (CVR) was achieved in 36/45 patients (80%) at 3 months, 41/45 (91.1%) at 6 months, and 43/45 (95.6%) at 12 months. High viral load at baseline was negative predictive factor of CVR at 3 months (HR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.022-0.92; p: 0.041). There was no significant difference in response between HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients, NA-naïve and NA-experienced patients, and cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. Low dose of tenofovir was well tolerated. Ten patients (22.22%) had mild side effects. Mild renal failure was observed in 3 patients (6.7%) during follow-up.

Conclusion

Low dose of tenofovir is effective, safe, and well tolerated in a Malagasy population sample. These results still require verification in a large population.

Predictors of Therapeutic Outcome to Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor in Hepatitis B Patients

Hepatitis B is a clinically important public health issue. Infection leads to hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, patients need antiviral therapy for prolonged period to prevent the complication of the disease. Data concerning chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with high hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA are limited. The aim of the study was to check the efficacy of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (tenofovir) in terms of suppression of HBV DNA. The secondary end point in the study is to evaluate trends of predictive variables that predict outcome of treatment. In this specific study, we evaluated 140 CHB male and female patients, of these 110 completed 48 weeks of treatment. On the basis of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), patients were stratified; HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels were measured along with liver function tests. All enrolled patients were given tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg daily before breakfast. Overall, 69.1% of patients showed virologic response. HBeAg-negative patient group showed 68% viral suppression and HBeAg-positive patient group showed 45.9% over 24 months of treatment, while at 48 months it was shown to be 76.7% and 54.1%, respectively. None of the patients suffered HBsAg loss during the 48 months. Baseline high HBV DNA level was found as a significant predictor of response (OR, 1.9; 95% CI = 1.23-3.9, p = 0.005). None of the patients observed had serious adverse events. Mutations in the RT region of polymerase gene are shown to be associated with resistance to antiviral drugs. Among patients suffering with chronic HBV infection, HBeAg-negative patient group have better virologic response as compared with HBeAg-positive group. Higher concentration of HBV DNA at baseline has negative prediction for sustained viral suppression. The A-B motif interdomain rtL122F mutation was found in nonresponder patients in our study. Another mutation rtN248H observed in E motif considered to have effect on DNA primer grip, which forms part of binding pocket.

A long-term multicenter study: Entecavir versus Tenofovir in treatment of nucleos(t)ide analogue-naive chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND

Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarat (TDF) are the two first-line therapies recommended in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B because of having potent antiviral effect and high genetic barriers against resistance. We aimed to compare efficacy of these drugs and to evaluate predictors of viral suppression.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted in nucleos(t)ide analogue-naive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients from different 6 centers.

RESULTS

Of the 252 patients, 166 received ETV and 86 TDF. The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, baseline ALT levels and fibrosis scores. ETV had significantly higher baseline HBV DNA, histological activity index and lower hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg) seropositivity. Treatment duration was longer in ETV group (P<0.001). In univariate analysis, undetectable HBV DNA and ALT normalization rates were detected significantly higher in ETV groups (P<0.001 and 0.049, respectively). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of HBeAg seroconversion, virological breakthrough, time to virological breakthrough and time to ALT normalization. Entecavir was more effective in reducing HBV DNA levels at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months of the treatment (P=0.06, 0.021 and 0.012, respectively). However, multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that TDF therapy compared to ETV had an increased probability of achieving complete viral suppression (HR=1, 66; 95% CI 1.21-2.33; P=0.010). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion was occurred in only one patient in ETV group.

CONCLUSION

ETV leads to an early response on HBV DNA decline in the first year of the treatment. However, TDF is more successful than entecavir in achieving virological suppression.

Clinical response to long-term tenofovir monotherapy in Korean chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a potent nucleotide analogue recommended as first-line monotherapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We investigated the clinical response to TDF monotherapy in Korean CHB patients.

METHODS

A total of 90 CHB patients [55 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 35 HBeAg-negative] who received TDF monotherapy for >2year, were enrolled. Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) levels, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBeAg, anti-HBe and HBV DNA levels were measured during treatment. Virologic response (VR) was defined as undetectable HBV DNA level.

RESULTS

The cumulative incidences of complete virologic response (CVR) were 75.6% and 89.9% at months 12 and 24, respectively. The cumulative CVR rates were significantly higher in HBeAg-negative than HBeAg-positive group (P<0.001). HBeAg loss/seroconversion was observed in 21 (38.2%) out of 55 HBeAg-positive patients. One HBeAg-positive and 1 HBeAg-negative patients (2.2%) achieved HBsAg loss at months 6 and 8 of TDF therapy, respectively. Baseline HBV DNA level and qHBsAg were significant predictive factors for a CVR (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Virologic, serologic, biochemical responses were achieved in both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients under 24-month TDF therapy. Monitoring using baseline HBV DNA and qHBsAg levels would be helpful to predict CVR.