BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the HBsAg seroconversion rate and its impact on the long-term outcome in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with conventional interferon, and to analyze the serum HBsAg concentration prior to seroconversion. METHODS: Ninety-seven HBeAg-positive patients were retrospectively evaluated. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as HBeAg seroconversion and undetectable serum HBV-DNA 48 weeks after treatment discontinuation. HBsAg level was assessed at yearly intervals until seroconversion in SVRs. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (26%) achieved SVR. By multivariate analysis, SVR was associated with low serum HBV DNA level and severe liver fibrosis. During a median follow-up of 14 years (range, 5-20 years), 28 patients (29%) developed HBsAg seroconversion including 16 SVRs (64%) and 12 non-SVRs (16%), p < 0.001. HBsAg quantification showed a major decrease (median = 46%, range = 19-100%) in the first year after interferon starting in SVR patients. Six patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma, none of them had undergone HBsAg seroconversion. Liver fibrosis improved in 70% of patients with HBsAg seroconversion compared to 30% of those without HBsAg seroconversion (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg seroconversion is achieved with a high steady rate in patients responding to interferon, and associated with excellent outcome. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the utility of on-treatment quantitative serum HBsAg in interferon-based therapy.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the HBsAg seroconversion rate and its impact on the long-term outcome in chronic hepatitis Bpatients treated with conventional interferon, and to analyze the serum HBsAg concentration prior to seroconversion. METHODS: Ninety-seven HBeAg-positive patients were retrospectively evaluated. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as HBeAg seroconversion and undetectable serum HBV-DNA 48 weeks after treatment discontinuation. HBsAg level was assessed at yearly intervals until seroconversion in SVRs. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (26%) achieved SVR. By multivariate analysis, SVR was associated with low serum HBV DNA level and severe liver fibrosis. During a median follow-up of 14 years (range, 5-20 years), 28 patients (29%) developed HBsAg seroconversion including 16 SVRs (64%) and 12 non-SVRs (16%), p < 0.001. HBsAg quantification showed a major decrease (median = 46%, range = 19-100%) in the first year after interferon starting in SVR patients. Six patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma, none of them had undergone HBsAg seroconversion. Liver fibrosis improved in 70% of patients with HBsAg seroconversion compared to 30% of those without HBsAg seroconversion (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg seroconversion is achieved with a high steady rate in patients responding to interferon, and associated with excellent outcome. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the utility of on-treatment quantitative serum HBsAg in interferon-based therapy.
Authors: B J Zacher; F Moriconi; S Bowden; R Hammond; S Louisirirotchanakul; P Phisalprapa; T Tanwandee; K Wursthorn; M R Brunetto; H Wedemeyer; F Bonino Journal: Clin Vaccine Immunol Date: 2011-08-31
Authors: Robert E Lanford; Bernadette Guerra; Deborah Chavez; Luis Giavedoni; Vida L Hodara; Kathleen M Brasky; Abigail Fosdick; Christian R Frey; Jim Zheng; Grushenka Wolfgang; Randall L Halcomb; Daniel B Tumas Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2013-02-13 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Nagraj Mani; Andrew G Cole; Janet R Phelps; Andrzej Ardzinski; Kyle D Cobarrubias; Andrea Cuconati; Bruce D Dorsey; Ellen Evangelista; Kristi Fan; Fang Guo; Haitao Guo; Ju-Tao Guo; Troy O Harasym; Salam Kadhim; Steven G Kultgen; Amy C H Lee; Alice H L Li; Quanxin Long; Sara A Majeski; Richeng Mao; Kevin D McClintock; Stephen P Reid; Rene Rijnbrand; Nicholas M Snead; Holly M Micolochick Steuer; Kim Stever; Sunny Tang; Xiaohe Wang; Qiong Zhao; Michael J Sofia Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2018-05-25 Impact factor: 5.191