{"title":"Characteristics analysis of hepatitis B core-related antigen in children with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic viral hepatitis B infection.","authors":"Fu-Chuan Wang, Yi Dong, Zhi-Qiang Xu, Yin-Jie Gao, Jian-Guo Yan, Li-Li Cao, Dan-Ni Feng, Chao Liu, Yan-Wei Zhong, Min Zhang, Shao-Jie Xin","doi":"10.1097/MEG.0000000000002812","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The objective of antiviral therapy for chronic viral hepatitis B infection (CHB) is to achieve a functional cure. An important viral marker in the serum of patients with CHB is the serum hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg). However, there is limited research on HBcrAg in juvenile patients with CHB. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between serum HBcrAg and other hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in children with CHB and its predictive significance for prognosis during antiviral therapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A single-center retrospective study was conducted involving 79 children with CHB, aged between 0 and 16 years. All the children were treated with interferon [or combined nucleos(t)ide analogs] for 48 weeks. HBcrAg, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HBV DNA were measured before treatment, and at 12 and 48 weeks after treatment. The enrolled children were classified into the seroclearance group and the nonseroclearance group based on the therapeutic outcome.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HBsAg seroclearance was observed in 28 out of 79 patients and hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion without HBsAg seroclearance was observed in 14 out of 79 patients following the conclusion of the treatment, with baseline HBcrAg titer levels showing no statistical significance in both the seroclearance and nonseroclearance groups ( P = 0.277). HBsAg and HBV DNA were positively correlated with HBcrAg in children with CHB ( R2 = 0.3289, 0.4388). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the decrease in HBcrAg at 12 weeks of treatment as a predictor of seroclearance at 48 weeks of treatment, exhibited a value of 0.77.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A decrease in serum HBcrAg levels in children with hepatitis B serves as a prognostic indicator.</p>","PeriodicalId":11999,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000002812","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/6/28 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The objective of antiviral therapy for chronic viral hepatitis B infection (CHB) is to achieve a functional cure. An important viral marker in the serum of patients with CHB is the serum hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg). However, there is limited research on HBcrAg in juvenile patients with CHB. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between serum HBcrAg and other hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in children with CHB and its predictive significance for prognosis during antiviral therapy.
Methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted involving 79 children with CHB, aged between 0 and 16 years. All the children were treated with interferon [or combined nucleos(t)ide analogs] for 48 weeks. HBcrAg, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HBV DNA were measured before treatment, and at 12 and 48 weeks after treatment. The enrolled children were classified into the seroclearance group and the nonseroclearance group based on the therapeutic outcome.
Results: HBsAg seroclearance was observed in 28 out of 79 patients and hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion without HBsAg seroclearance was observed in 14 out of 79 patients following the conclusion of the treatment, with baseline HBcrAg titer levels showing no statistical significance in both the seroclearance and nonseroclearance groups ( P = 0.277). HBsAg and HBV DNA were positively correlated with HBcrAg in children with CHB ( R2 = 0.3289, 0.4388). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the decrease in HBcrAg at 12 weeks of treatment as a predictor of seroclearance at 48 weeks of treatment, exhibited a value of 0.77.
Conclusion: A decrease in serum HBcrAg levels in children with hepatitis B serves as a prognostic indicator.
期刊介绍：
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology publishes papers reporting original clinical and scientific research which are of a high standard and which contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.
The journal publishes three types of manuscript: in-depth reviews (by invitation only), full papers and case reports. Manuscripts submitted to the journal will be accepted on the understanding that the author has not previously submitted the paper to another journal or had the material published elsewhere. Authors are asked to disclose any affiliations, including financial, consultant, or institutional associations, that might lead to bias or a conflict of interest.
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