Abstract
Since active replication of hepatitis B virus is strongly associated with the development of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality, antiviral therapy is aimed at maximal viral suppression. However, as no antiviral therapy is perfect due to the emergence of resistant strains and suboptimal efficacy in some patients, modifying the treatment strategies for certain patients in advance is important through prediction of treatment responses. Recently, along with serial monitoring of hepatitis B virus DNA level, quantitative analysis of the serologic markers HBsAg (qHBsAg) and HBeAg (qHBeAg) has been used to predict responses to antiviral therapy. The clinical usefulness of both pretreatment qHBsAg and decline in qHBsAg during treatment was assessed in patients treated with pegylated interferon, suggesting that they might be used as another criterion to identify good and poor responders. Similarly, in patients treated with oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), the clinical significance of qHBsAg has been reported in some studies. However, as the decline in qHBsAg is much slower during NA therapy and the data on the use of qHBsAg to predict response to NA treatment are very preliminary, its wide application remains to be determined. Another serologic marker (qHBeAg) measured at baseline and during treatment might be applied for identifying good or poor responders to antiviral therapy. Unfortunately, measurement of qHBeAg has not been widely used because it is expensive, nonstandardized, and unavailable in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In conclusion, serologic markers may be potential predictors of response to antiviral therapy in CHB, allowing delivery of the most appropriate treatments to the most suitable patients. Further investigations into the universal clinical usefulness of such markers are needed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 29-34 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Digestion |
| Volume | 84 |
| Issue number | SUPPL. 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 Dec 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Gastroenterology
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Hepatitis B virus serology to predict antiviral response in chronic hepatitis B. / Kim, Beom Kyung; Han, Kwang Hyub; Ahn, Sang Hoon.
In: Digestion, Vol. 84, No. SUPPL. 1, 01.12.2011, p. 29-34.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hepatitis B virus serology to predict antiviral response in chronic hepatitis B
AU - Kim, Beom Kyung
AU - Han, Kwang Hyub
AU - Ahn, Sang Hoon
PY - 2011/12/1
Y1 - 2011/12/1
N2 - Since active replication of hepatitis B virus is strongly associated with the development of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality, antiviral therapy is aimed at maximal viral suppression. However, as no antiviral therapy is perfect due to the emergence of resistant strains and suboptimal efficacy in some patients, modifying the treatment strategies for certain patients in advance is important through prediction of treatment responses. Recently, along with serial monitoring of hepatitis B virus DNA level, quantitative analysis of the serologic markers HBsAg (qHBsAg) and HBeAg (qHBeAg) has been used to predict responses to antiviral therapy. The clinical usefulness of both pretreatment qHBsAg and decline in qHBsAg during treatment was assessed in patients treated with pegylated interferon, suggesting that they might be used as another criterion to identify good and poor responders. Similarly, in patients treated with oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), the clinical significance of qHBsAg has been reported in some studies. However, as the decline in qHBsAg is much slower during NA therapy and the data on the use of qHBsAg to predict response to NA treatment are very preliminary, its wide application remains to be determined. Another serologic marker (qHBeAg) measured at baseline and during treatment might be applied for identifying good or poor responders to antiviral therapy. Unfortunately, measurement of qHBeAg has not been widely used because it is expensive, nonstandardized, and unavailable in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In conclusion, serologic markers may be potential predictors of response to antiviral therapy in CHB, allowing delivery of the most appropriate treatments to the most suitable patients. Further investigations into the universal clinical usefulness of such markers are needed.
AB - Since active replication of hepatitis B virus is strongly associated with the development of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality, antiviral therapy is aimed at maximal viral suppression. However, as no antiviral therapy is perfect due to the emergence of resistant strains and suboptimal efficacy in some patients, modifying the treatment strategies for certain patients in advance is important through prediction of treatment responses. Recently, along with serial monitoring of hepatitis B virus DNA level, quantitative analysis of the serologic markers HBsAg (qHBsAg) and HBeAg (qHBeAg) has been used to predict responses to antiviral therapy. The clinical usefulness of both pretreatment qHBsAg and decline in qHBsAg during treatment was assessed in patients treated with pegylated interferon, suggesting that they might be used as another criterion to identify good and poor responders. Similarly, in patients treated with oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), the clinical significance of qHBsAg has been reported in some studies. However, as the decline in qHBsAg is much slower during NA therapy and the data on the use of qHBsAg to predict response to NA treatment are very preliminary, its wide application remains to be determined. Another serologic marker (qHBeAg) measured at baseline and during treatment might be applied for identifying good or poor responders to antiviral therapy. Unfortunately, measurement of qHBeAg has not been widely used because it is expensive, nonstandardized, and unavailable in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In conclusion, serologic markers may be potential predictors of response to antiviral therapy in CHB, allowing delivery of the most appropriate treatments to the most suitable patients. Further investigations into the universal clinical usefulness of such markers are needed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=83755220065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=83755220065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000334076
DO - 10.1159/000334076
M3 - Article
C2 - 22156483
AN - SCOPUS:83755220065
VL - 84
SP - 29
EP - 34
JO - Digestion
JF - Digestion
SN - 0012-2823
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -