Serum hepatitis B surface antigen correlates with fibrosis and necroinflammation: A multicentre perspective in China.

Abstract

The kinetics of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been studied, but the factors affecting them remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting HBsAg titres, using data from multicentre, large-sized clinical trials in China. The baseline data of 1795 patients in 3 multicentre trials were studied, and the patients were classified into 3 groups: hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic HBV infection (n = 588), HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (n = 596), and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (n = 611). HBsAg titres in the different phases were compared, and multiple linear progression analyses were performed to investigate the implicated factors. HBsAg titres varied significantly in different phases (P = .000), with the highest (4.60 log10 IU/mL [10%-90% confidence interval: 3.52 log10 IU/mL-4.99 log10 IU/mL]) in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection. In all phases, age and HBV DNA were correlated with serum HBsAg level. In HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients, a negative correlation between HBsAg titres and fibrosis stage was observed. Alanine amonitransferase or necroinflammatory activity was also correlated with HBsAg titres in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients. In conclusion, decreased HBsAg titres may be associated with advancing fibrosis in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients or increased necroinflammation in those with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. Our findings may help clinicians better understand the kinetics of HBsAg and provide useful insights into the management of this disease.

• Authors: P Zhang, H B Du, G D Tong, X K Li, X H Sun, X L Chi, Y F Xing, Z H Zhou, Q Li, B Chen, H Wang, L Wang, H Jin, D W Mao, X B Wang, Q K Wu, F P Li, X Y Hu, B J Lu, Z Y Yang, M X Zhang, W B Shi, Q He, Y Li, K P Jiang, J D Xue, X D Li, J M Jiang, W Lu, G J Tian, Z B Hu, J C Guo, C Z Li, X Deng, X L Luo, F Y Li, X W Zhang, Y J Zheng, G Zhao, L C Wang, J H Wu, H Guo, Y Q Mi, Z J Gong, C B Wang, F Jiang, P Guo, X Z Yang, W Q Shi, H Z Yang, Y Zhou, N N Sun, Y T Jiao, Y Q Gao, D Q Zhou, Y A Ye
• Journal: Journal of viral hepatitis (J Viral Hepat) Vol. 25 Issue 9 Pg. 1017-1025 (09 2018) ISSN: 1365-2893 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29624802 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• China
• DNA, Viral (blood)
• Female
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (complications, pathology)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Serum (chemistry)
• Young Adult