Correlation of hepatitis B surface antigen level with response to telbivudine in naive patients with chronic hepatitis B

Aim Hepatitis B surface antigen ( HB s A g) has become a marker to judge immunological response to hepatitis B therapy. Quantified serum HB s A g levels can predict the response to pegylated interferon and entecavir. In this study, we aimed to explore the correlation of serum HB s A g levels with response to telbivudine ( L d T ) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ). Methods Seventy‐three treatment‐naive CHB patients were recruited and received L d T monotherapy for 52 weeks and serial HB s A g levels were measured at five protocol time points. According to therapeutic efficacy at week 52, three subgroups of patients were identified, including complete responders ( CR ), partial responders ( PR ) and non‐responders ( NR ). Results After 52 weeks of treatment, CR , PR and NR represented 19 (26%), 33 (45%) and 21 (29%) patients in the sample of 73, respectively. The median values of baseline HB s A g (log 10 IU /mL) were 4.05, 4.50 and 5.03 for CR , PR and NR , respectively. There was a distinct decline of HB s A g at week 52; median log 10 HB s A g levels ( IU /mL) were 3.61 ( CR ), 3.86 ( PR ) and 4.31 ( NR ). Positive correlation between HB s A g levels and HBV DNA loads was observed in the group of NR and early antiviral treatment of PR , but not in CR . Conclusion Initial HB s A g level was closely correlated with the efficacy of LdT . Patients with low HB s A g levels presented satisfactory responses. Therefore, initial level and correlation with HBV DNA of the serum HB s A g levels could predict responsiveness in CHB patients receiving L d T .