On-treatment low serum HBV RNA level predicts initial virological response in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving nucleoside analogue therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Serum HBV RNA is detectable during nucleoside/nucleotide analogue therapy as a result of unaffected RNA replicative intermediates or interrupted reverse transcription. We studied the predictive value of serum HBV RNA for initial virological response during nucleoside analogue therapy.

METHODS:

Serum HBV RNA was quantified before and at 12 and 24 weeks of lamivudine or entecavir therapy. Serum HBV DNA was measured every 4-12 weeks during treatment to define initial virological response.

RESULTS:

Serum HBV RNA was detectable in 21 of 52 (40%) consecutive patients with a mean of 5.2 log copies/ml (male/female 35/17, mean age of 60 years with a range of 31-82, 44% HBeAg-positive, and 26 with lamivudine and 26 with entecavir) before treatment. Serum HBV RNA level at week 12 in patients with an interval from detectable to undetectable serum HBV DNA level <16 weeks was significantly lower than those with an interval ≥16 weeks (3.8 ±3.8 versus 6.6 ±3.5 log copies/ml, P=0.013). After adjustment for serum HBV DNA level at week 12, serum quantatitive HBsAg level at week 12 and pretreatment ALT level, low serum HBV RNA level at week 12 predicted a shorter interval to undetectable serum HBV DNA level (adjusted hazard ratio =0.908, 95% CI 0.829, 0.993, P=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS:

Low serum HBV RNA level at week 12 of nucleoside analogue therapy independently predicts initial virological response in treated chronic hepatitis B patients. Serum HBV RNA levels may thus be useful for optimizing treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

• Authors: Yi-Wen Huang, Shoichi Takahashi, Masataka Tsuge, Chi-Ling Chen, Ting-Chuan Wang, Hiromi Abe, Jui-Ting Hu, Ding-Shinn Chen, Sien-Sing Yang, Kazuaki Chayama, Jia-Horng Kao
• Journal: Antiviral therapy (Antivir Ther) Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 369-75 ( 2015) ISSN: 2040-2058 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24739420 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Biomarkers
• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• RNA, Viral
• Lamivudine
• entecavir
• Guanine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• DNA, Viral (antagonists & inhibitors, blood)
• Female
• Guanine (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (drug effects, growth & development, metabolism)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, virology)
• Humans
• Lamivudine (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• RNA, Viral (antagonists & inhibitors, blood)
• Treatment Outcome
• Viral Load (drug effects)