Predictive Factors for HBsAg Loss in Chronic HBeAg-Negative Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Insights From a 5-Year French Cohort.
Prognostic factors for the long-term evolution of chronic hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may vary depending on local epidemiology. We aimed to identify these factors in France, where the epidemiology is influenced by diverse immigration. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, HBeAg-negative adults with normal transaminase levels and viral loads < 20,000 IU/mL for 1 year, without viral co-infection or advanced liver disease, were enrolled for a 5-year follow-up. A total of 564 patients were recruited from 23 centres (54.4% women, mean age 42.3 ± 12 years, 47.7% from sub-Saharan Africa). HBV DNA was detectable but < 2000 IU/mL for most (71.3%). Genotypes E (27.8%) and A (20.0%) were predominant. The mean HBsAg titre was 3.8 ± 3.4 log IU/mL, > 1000 IU/mL in 60% of cases, and higher in genotype E (p < 0.0001). During follow-up, 18 patients received antiviral treatment, 9 for viral reactivation (0.3% per year) and 9 preemptively. HBsAg loss occurred in 39 patients (1.4% per year). These patients were older (p < 0.0001), more frequently treated for dyslipidemia, hypertension or diabetes (p < 0.05), and had lower baseline HBV DNA (p = 0.0112) and HBsAg (p < 0.0001), but similar levels of HBcrAg compared to those who did not clear HBsAg. Baseline HBsAg was the only independent predictor of HBsAg loss (p = 0.009). In this cohort, HBsAg < 153 IU/mL predicted clearance with 87% sensitivity and specificity. In conclusion, baseline HBsAg accurately predicted seroclearance at 5 years in patients with chronic HBeAg-negative infection, regardless of genotype, sex, or geographical origin, indicating that this marker is widely applicable for reducing the frequency of patient monitoring.
Causse X
,Potier P
,Valéry A
,Labadie H
,Macaigne G
,Cadranel JF
,Fontanges T
,Mouna L
,Roque-Afonso AM
,PIBAC Study Group of Association Nationale des Hépato‐Gastroentérologues des Hôpitaux Généraux (ANGH)
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Clinical outcomes of untreated adults living with chronic hepatitis B in The Gambia: an analysis of data from the prospective PROLIFICA cohort study.
Expanding antiviral therapy to people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who are ineligible to receive treatment under current international criteria has been increasingly debated. Evidence to support this approach is scarce, especially in Africa. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by analysing the clinical outcomes of people with chronic hepatitis B in The Gambia who were untreated and ineligible for antiviral therapy at diagnosis.
Between Dec 7, 2011, and Jan 24, 2014, we implemented the prospective PROLIFICA cohort study in The Gambia. Participants with chronic hepatitis B aged 16 years or older were recruited after large-scale, community-based HBV screening; blood bank-based HBV screening in Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul; and prospective follow-up of HBsAg-positive individuals via historical, population-based HBsAg serosurveys in two rural villages (Keneba and Manduar). Participants underwent HBV serology and other laboratory tests, fasting FibroScan, and abdominal ultrasound. Survival data were collected between Dec 7, 2011, and Aug 17, 2021. Between Oct 9, 2018, and Aug 17, 2021, all HBsAg-positive participants enrolled in the 2011-14 cohort were invited for a reassessment. For this analysis, we included HBsAg-positive people and excluded all participants who were eligible for treatment according to the 2012 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) criteria at baseline and those who were treated irrespective of treatment eligibility. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, assessed in all treatment-ineligible and treatment-naive participants with follow-up data. The secondary outcome, analysed in those who were reassessed, was disease progression, defined as becoming eligible for antivirals per 2017 EASL criteria; having an increase in liver fibrosis of at least one stage; or having a clinical diagnosis of hepatic decompensation or hepatocellular carcinoma.
943 HBsAg-positive people with chronic hepatitis B were recruited to the PROLIFICA study. Of these 943, 58 (6%) fulfilled 2012 EASL treatment eligibility criteria at baseline, 35 (4%) were ineligible for treatment but received antiviral therapy, and 44 (5%) were immediately lost to follow-up. Thus, 806 (85%) participants were analysed for the primary outcome (486 [60%] were male and 320 [40%] were female). After a median follow-up of 6·11 years (IQR 5·34-6·80), 708 (88%) participants were confirmed to be alive at last surveillance, 71 (9%) were lost to follow-up and were censored, and 27 (3%) died, giving an all-cause mortality rate of 582 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 399-849). Of the 27 people who died, five (19%) had liver-related deaths. Of 708 participants confirmed to be alive, 544 (77%) attended follow-up and were assessed for the secondary outcome. Disease progression occurred in 36 (7%) participants: five (1%) became newly eligible for antiviral therapy per EASL 2017 criteria without liver fibrosis progression; 18 (3%) had liver fibrosis progression alone; 13 (2%) had liver fibrosis progression and newly fulfilled the treatment criteria; and none had hepatic decompensation or developed hepatocellular carcinoma. In multivariable analysis adjusted for sex and age, only a baseline HBV DNA of 20 000 IU/mL or more, compared with the baseline HBV DNA of 2000 IU/mL or lower as the reference, was significantly associated with liver disease progression (odds ratio 5·39, 95% CI 1·37-21·23).
Among people with chronic hepatitis B who were ineligible for antiviral therapy in The Gambia, all-cause mortality and liver disease progression were low. The clinical benefit of expanding antiviral therapy in this subgroup of patients remains uncertain.
European Commission, Medical Research Council UK Research and Innovation, and Gilead Sciences.
Ndow G
,Shimakawa Y
,Leith D
,Bah S
,Bangura R
,Mahmoud I
,Bojang L
,Ceesay A
,Drammeh S
,Bola-Lawal Q
,Lambert G
,Hardy P
,Ingiliz P
,Haddadin Y
,Vo-Quang E
,Chevaliez S
,Cloherty G
,Bittaye SO
,Lo G
,Toure-Kane C
,Mendy M
,Njie R
,Chemin I
,D'Alessandro U
,Thursz M
,Lemoine M
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《The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology》
Hepatitis B surface antigen loss in chronic hepatitis B patients with low-viral-load.
Among low viral load (DNA of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was < 2000 IU/mL), the factor of the loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) remained elusive.
The retrospective study recruited patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who were negative low for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), had a low viral load, and experienced HBsAg loss during follow-up. CHB patients with low-viral load but without consequent HBsAg loss were also enrolled at the ratio of 1:4. The factors contributing to HBsAg loss were analyzed.
A total of 80 patients were recruited for the current study, with a mean age of 63.9 years and 61.3% being male. Among them, 62.5% patients (50/80) were treated with potent nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) during the follow-up period. Additionally, 12.5% patients (10/80) had a prior history of NAs treatment before enrolment. During the follow-up, HBsAg loss occurred in 17 patients (21.3%). Compared with patients without HBsAg loss, those with HBsAg loss were younger (57.9 years vs 65.5 years; P = 0.01), had lower HBV DNA levels (1.3 log10 IU/mL vs 2.3 log10 IU/mL; P = 0.003), and higher proportion of prior NAs-treated history. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with factors associated with HBsAg loss were age < 60 years (OR/CI: 3.95/1.15-13.60, P = 0.03), prior NAs-treated history (OR/CI: 7.59/1.42-40.51, P = 0.01) and current NAs-treated (OR/CI: 0.19/0.05-0.71, P = 0.01).
In the study, older age and prior NAs were positively associated with HBsAg loss, and current NAs was negatively associated with HBsAg loss. Additionally, some patients experienced HBsAg loss during the NAs therapy.
Jang TY
,Batsaikhan B
,Chen YC
,Dai CY
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Occult hepatitis B infection in children born to HBeAg-positive women confers a low long-term risk for HBsAg-positive infection.
Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) has been the main cause of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, particularly in East Asia. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and vaccination given directly after birth effectively prevents hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive (overt) HBV infection, but occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) may develop despite adequate prophylaxis. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome in children born to mothers with very high HBV DNA levels with special focus on children discovered in early childhood with OBI.
One-year and long-term outcome regarding overt and occult HBV infection were analysed in 66 children born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive mothers, and were compared with one-year outcome in 69 children born to HBeAg-negative mothers. The children were born between 1998 and 2018.
Six children born to HBeAg-positive mothers developed overt chronic HBV infection, in two cases after normal pregnancies and despite HBIG and vaccination, but never when nucleotide analogue treatment was given during pregnancy. OBI with HBV DNA detected in serum in the absence of surface antigen (HBsAg) was observed in four children at the age of 1 year. One of them was transiently HBsAg-positive at the age of 7 years. At long-term follow-up, six children had overt chronic infection, one had OBI and six had previous OBI or positive anti-HBc suggesting resolved unidentified infections.
The results indicate that children born to mothers with high HBV DNA levels have approximately 10% risk to develop OBI despite antiviral treatment, vaccination and HBIG, but that such OBI confers a minimal long-term risk for overt infection, at least in immunocompetent children.
Eilard A
,Andersson ME
,Wejstål R
,Norkrans G
,Lindh M
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