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HBsAg clearance in patients with long-standing chronic active hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus-induced liver
Insights
Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBsAg) can clear in patients with chronic active hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis. This study observed HBsAg clearance in 7 patients, indicating potential for long-term recovery.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic active hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus-induced liver cirrhosis represent significant long-term health challenges.
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriership is a hallmark of persistent infection.
Observation:
- Seven patients with chronic conditions (5 chronic active hepatitis B, 2 liver cirrhosis) were observed over 3 years.
- These patients had a history of HBsAg carriership lasting 2-14 years.
- Four patients developed antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) post-clearance.
Findings:
- All 7 patients achieved HBsAg clearance from their sera.
- No evidence of ongoing liver inflammation was detected after HBsAg clearance.
- Previous treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine had been discontinued for over 3 years prior to HBsAg clearance.
Implications:
- HBsAg elimination is possible even in patients with long-standing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver damage.
- These findings suggest potential for spontaneous viral clearance and recovery in some chronic HBV cases.
- Further research into the mechanisms of HBsAg clearance could inform therapeutic strategies for chronic hepatitis B.
Abstract:
During a period of 3 years we observed 5 patients with chronic active hepatitis B and 2 with hepatitis B virus-induced liver cirrhosis who cleared HBsAg from their sera after 2-14 years of HBsAg carriership. 4 of them developed anti-HBs. After HBsAg clearance there was no evidence of persisting inflammatory activity within their livers. 5 of the 7 patients had been treated for 1-39 months with prednisolone, sometimes in combination with azathioprine. This therapy, however, had been stopped more than 3 years before these patients terminated their HBsAg carriership. Our observations indicate that even after long-standing chronic active hepatitis B or hepatitis B virus-induced liver cirrhosis HBsAg may be eliminated in a considerable number of patients.