Loss of HBsAg antigen during treatment with entecavir or lamivudine in nucleoside-naïve HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B

R. G. Gish, Ting-Tsung Chang, C. L. Lai, R. De Man, A. Gadano, F. Poordad, J. Yang, H. Brett-Smith, R. Tamez

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121 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This retrospective analysis was conducted to describe the characteristics of nucleoside-naïve hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B, who achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss during entecavir or lamivudine therapy. HBeAg-positive adults with chronic hepatitis B, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, and compensated liver disease were randomized to double-blind treatment for up to 96 weeks with entecavir 0.5 mgday or lamivudine 100 mgday. HBsAg and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were measured at regular intervals during and off-treatment follow-up. Through a maximum duration of 96 weeks on-treatment and 24 weeks off-treatment, HBsAg loss was confirmed in 18354 (5.1%) patients treated with entecavir and 10355 (2.8%) patients treated with lamivudine. Among the 28 patients with confirmed HBsAg loss, 27 (96%) achieved HBV DNA <300 copiesmL, and 27 (96%) achieved confirmed HBeAg loss. All entecavir recipients with HBsAg loss had HBV DNA <300 copiesmL. Caucasian patients, and those infected with HBV genotype A or D, were significantly more likely to lose HBsAg. This retrospective analysis of data from a randomized, global phase three trial shows that confirmed loss of HBsAg occurred in 5% of nucleoside-naïve HBeAg-positive patients treated with entecavir, and that HBsAg loss is associated with sustained off-treatment suppression of HBV DNA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16-22
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Viral Hepatitis
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010 Jan 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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