An early decrease in serum HBeAg titre is a strong predictor of virological response to entecavir in HBeAg‐positive patients

Abstract

Quantification of HBeAg levels has been found to be useful in monitoring and predicting the outcomes of interferon and lamivudine treatment in HBeAg-positive patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether quantification of HBeAg at baseline and on treatment could predict which patients would achieve HBeAg seroconversion after 96 weeks of entecavir therapy. Sixty-five HBeAg-positive naïve chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with entecavir at a dose of 0.5 mg once daily for 96 weeks were evaluated. Serum HBV DNA levels were assessed at baseline, week 24, 48 and 96; serum HBeAg levels were assessed at baseline, week 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96. Serum HBeAg levels were associated with a higher likelihood of HBeAg seroconversion to entecavir at weeks 96 than serum HBV DNA levels both at baseline and on treatment (at baseline: OR = 9.932, P = 0.003 vs. OR = 5.045, P = 0.036; on treatment: OR = 112.5, P < 0.0001 vs. OR = 47.782, P < 0.0001). A maintained reduction in HBeAg > 65% of pretreatment HBeAg values after 24 weeks of entecavir therapy is the strongest predictor for HBeAg seroconversion at week 96 (OR = 70.578, P < 0.0001). Quantification of HBeAg at the start and early during therapy showed a higher predictive value than that of HBV DNA for HBeAg seroconversion by entecavir. A significant decrease in serum HBeAg levels at week 24 may be a useful on-treatment measurement in the early phase for predicting HBeAg seroconversion and identifying patients who will most likely benefit from finite entecavir treatment.

Hepatitis B Virus Serology to Predict Antiviral Response in Chronic Hepatitis B

“…In 57 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB treated with entecavir, a decline in qHBeAg level of >1 log 10 PE IU/ml after 6 months of treatment was most predictive of a serologic response, with a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 89.8% [27]. Consistent with these findings, another study of 65 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB treated with entecavir found that a maintained reduction in qHBeAg of >65% at week 24 from baseline was the strongest predictor of HBeAg seroconversion at week 96 [38]. …”

Slow reduction of IP-10 Levels predicts HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients with 5 years of entecavir treatment

“…Positive HBeAg status is indicative of viral replication and increases in the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma7. Indeed, HBeAg seroconversion is considered one of the most important surrogate markers for assessing the durability and efficacy of antiviral therapy in CHB patients with HBeAg-positive8. However, the exact mechanisms and factors that contribute to HBeAg seroclearance and HBeAb production are not well described.…”

The predictive value of early indicators for HBeAg seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with Telbivudine treatment for 104 weeks

“…Similar result was found in Zhang's trial as we mentioned before which was consistent with our outcome. [10] Two patients got the insignifi cant decline with a ratio of 22.22% (2/9). But the average HBeAg values in these two patients at baseline were very low (<5 S/CO).…”