Long-term virological and clinical evaluation of chronic hepatitis B patients under nucleos(t)ide analogues therapy

IF 2.6 4区医学 Q2 GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY

Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1016/j.clinre.2025.102566

Maria Stella Franzè , Carlo Saitta , Daniele Lombardo , Cristina Musolino , Gaia Caccamo , Roberto Filomia , Concetta Pitrone , Irene Cacciola , Teresa Pollicino , Giovanni Raimondo

{"title":"Long-term virological and clinical evaluation of chronic hepatitis B patients under nucleos(t)ide analogues therapy","authors":"Maria Stella Franzè , Carlo Saitta , Daniele Lombardo , Cristina Musolino , Gaia Caccamo , Roberto Filomia , Concetta Pitrone , Irene Cacciola , Teresa Pollicino , Giovanni Raimondo","doi":"10.1016/j.clinre.2025.102566","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction and objectives</h3><div>Identifying hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients eligible for safe nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) discontinuation remains challenging. Discrepant data on combined HBV DNA and quantitative HBV surface antigen (qHBsAg) assessments are available. This study aimed to identify potential predictors for safe treatment discontinuation by evaluating clinical/virological outcomes in patients on long-term NA therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><div>A retrospective cohort of 139 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients - who consecutively started Entecavir or Tenofovir from 2007 to 2011 - was evaluated. The study population was selected based on anti-HBe positivity, absence of prior antiviral treatment, absence of non-HBV-related liver diseases or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and long-term clinical/ultrasonographic/laboratory evaluations post-NA initiation. Serum samples collected before starting NA (T0) and over ten years (T1-T10) were tested for HBV DNA and qHBsAg.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-two/139 (15.8 %) CHB patients (12 chronic hepatitis, 10 cirrhosis) met the inclusion criteria. All patients showed a significant decrease in liver stiffness values in the ten years of follow-up (<em>p</em> = 0.001), and no hepatic decompensation occurred. Three/22 (13.6 %) patients developed HCC. Ten/22 patients (45.5 %; group-A) had fluctuating HBV DNA, while other 10/22 (45.5 %; group-B) showed undetectable HBV DNA for 5–9 years with more significant qHBsAg decline (<em>p</em> = 0.04) than group-A. Two/22 (9.1 %) patients showed a critical qHBsAg decline up to seroconversion together with undetectable HBV DNA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Persistent undetectable HBV DNA levels correlate with qHBsAg reduction and the potential HBsAg seroclearance, suggesting that long-term HBV DNA monitoring in NA-treated CHB patients might help identify candidates for treatment discontinuation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10424,"journal":{"name":"Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology","volume":"49 4","pages":"Article 102566"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210740125000464","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction and objectives

Identifying hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients eligible for safe nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) discontinuation remains challenging. Discrepant data on combined HBV DNA and quantitative HBV surface antigen (qHBsAg) assessments are available. This study aimed to identify potential predictors for safe treatment discontinuation by evaluating clinical/virological outcomes in patients on long-term NA therapy.

Patients and methods

A retrospective cohort of 139 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients - who consecutively started Entecavir or Tenofovir from 2007 to 2011 - was evaluated. The study population was selected based on anti-HBe positivity, absence of prior antiviral treatment, absence of non-HBV-related liver diseases or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and long-term clinical/ultrasonographic/laboratory evaluations post-NA initiation. Serum samples collected before starting NA (T0) and over ten years (T1-T10) were tested for HBV DNA and qHBsAg.

Results

Twenty-two/139 (15.8 %) CHB patients (12 chronic hepatitis, 10 cirrhosis) met the inclusion criteria. All patients showed a significant decrease in liver stiffness values in the ten years of follow-up (p = 0.001), and no hepatic decompensation occurred. Three/22 (13.6 %) patients developed HCC. Ten/22 patients (45.5 %; group-A) had fluctuating HBV DNA, while other 10/22 (45.5 %; group-B) showed undetectable HBV DNA for 5–9 years with more significant qHBsAg decline (p = 0.04) than group-A. Two/22 (9.1 %) patients showed a critical qHBsAg decline up to seroconversion together with undetectable HBV DNA.

Conclusions

Persistent undetectable HBV DNA levels correlate with qHBsAg reduction and the potential HBsAg seroclearance, suggesting that long-term HBV DNA monitoring in NA-treated CHB patients might help identify candidates for treatment discontinuation.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

3.70%

发文量

198

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology publishes high-quality original research papers in the field of hepatology and gastroenterology. The editors put the accent on rapid communication of new research and clinical developments and so called "hot topic" issues. Following a clear Editorial line, besides original articles and case reports, each issue features editorials, commentaries and reviews. The journal encourages research and discussion between all those involved in the specialty on an international level. All articles are peer reviewed by international experts, the articles in press are online and indexed in the international databases (Current Contents, Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct). Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology is a subscription journal (with optional open access), which allows you to publish your research without any cost to you (unless you proactively chose the open access option). Your article will be available to all researchers around the globe whose institution has a subscription to the journal.