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Dynamics of hepatitis B e antigen index ratio correlate with treatment response in chronic hepatitis B patients
Author(s) -
Wang ChiaChi,
Liu ChunJen,
Lai MingYang,
Kao JiaHorng,
Chen DingShinn
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2006.01418.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hbeag , lamivudine , gastroenterology , seroconversion , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b , serology , immunology , hbsag , virus , antibody
Background/Aim: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is an important event in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Whether early dynamics of HBeAg index ratio could predict therapeutic endpoint of HBeAg seroconversion in patients receiving lamivudine remains unclear and thus deserves investigation. Methods: A total of 52 patients (males/females, 40/12; mean age, 31.1±7.5 years) with HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level ≥5 × upper limit of normal were enrolled. They received daily 100 mg lamivudine for at least 1 year. Pretreatment HBeAg index ratio and the dynamics during treatment [early serologic response (ESR) and serologic breakthrough (SB)] between responders and non‐responders were compared. Results: Of these 52 patients, mean pretreatment serum ALT level was 580 IU/l and baseline HBeAg index ratio (S/N) was 37.9. The overall 1‐year on‐treatment combined response rate was 50%. By using linear regression analysis, HBeAg index ratio was positively correlated with serum HBV DNA level (Pearson's correlation coefficient: 0.62, P <0.0001). By using multivariate logistic regression analysis, ESR could predict the success of treatment response ( P =0.0302), and SB had a 90% positive predictive value of treatment failure. Conclusions: HBeAg index ratio is closely correlated with serum HBV DNA level, and the dynamics of HBeAg index ratio may predict 1‐year on‐treatment combined response to lamivudine in HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients.