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Correlation of hepatitis B surface antigen level with response to telbivudine in naive patients with chronic hepatitis B
Author(s) -
Li Xuefen,
Wang Yiyin,
Han Dongsheng,
Zhang Wen,
Zhang Zike,
Ye Xianfei,
Tian Li,
Dong Yuejiao,
Zhu Qiaoyun,
Chen Yu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12105
Subject(s) - telbivudine , hbsag , medicine , entecavir , gastroenterology , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , immunology , chronic hepatitis , virus , lamivudine
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 .