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

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) quantification aids treatment monitoring in chronic hepatitis B.
• Predicting HBeAg seroconversion is crucial for optimizing antiviral therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate HBeAg quantification at baseline and during treatment as a predictor of HBeAg seroconversion after 96 weeks of entecavir therapy.
• To compare the predictive value of HBeAg levels versus HBV DNA levels for entecavir treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 65 HBeAg-positive, treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients received entecavir (0.5 mg daily) for 96 weeks.
• Serum HBV DNA and HBeAg levels were measured at multiple time points throughout the study.
• Statistical analysis, including odds ratios (OR), was used to assess predictive values.

Main Results:

• HBeAg levels at baseline and during treatment were stronger predictors of HBeAg seroconversion than HBV DNA levels.
• A reduction in HBeAg of >65% from baseline by week 24 was the most significant predictor (OR = 70.578, P < 0.0001).
• Early decreases in HBeAg levels demonstrated higher predictive value for entecavir-induced seroconversion.

Conclusions:

• HBeAg quantification, particularly early in therapy, offers superior predictive value for entecavir-induced HBeAg seroconversion compared to HBV DNA.
• A significant HBeAg reduction by week 24 serves as a key early marker for predicting treatment success and identifying patients likely to benefit from entecavir.