Open AccessSerum HBV RNA is a Potential Predictor of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Reversion
Author(s) -
Wang Jie,
Chen Xiangmei,
Wu Yali,
Cao Zhenhuan,
Wang Leijie,
Huang Hongxin,
Chen Xinyue,
Lu Fengmin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
hepatology communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2471-254X
DOI - 10.1002/hep4.1249
Subject(s) - reversion , hbsag , medicine , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b , gastroenterology , immunology , virus , virology , biology , gene , phenotype , biochemistry
Because sustained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance with or without anti-HB appearance represents a functional cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), HBsAg loss has been recommended as an optimal endpoint of antiviral treatment.(1) However, composite reversion including HBsAg reversion and/or hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA reappearance may still occur after drug withdrawal, even after achieving HBsAg loss.(2) Therefore, a novel marker predicting the risk of composite reversion is needed. Because serum HBV RNA has been suggested as a potential predictor of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) off-therapy viral rebound in our previous study,(3) we wondered whether it could be used to predict the risk of composite reversion. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:1168-1171).