Viral and host responses after stopping long-term nucleos (t) ide analogue therapy in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

C Höner zu Siederdissen, F Rinker… - The Journal of …, 2016 - academic.oup.com
C Höner zu Siederdissen, F Rinker, B Maasoumy, SB Wiegand, N Filmann, CS Falk
The Journal of infectious diseases, 2016academic.oup.com
This prospective study investigated viral and host markers after stopping long-term therapy
with nucleos (t) ide analogues in noncirrhotic patients with hepatitis B e antigen–negative
chronic hepatitis B. After stopping therapy, 13 of 15 patients experienced a virological
relapse. Rebound of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis B core-related antigen was
associated with induction of plasma tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL) 10, IL-12p70,
CXCL10 and subsequent decline in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), with 20% HBsAg …
Abstract
This prospective study investigated viral and host markers after stopping long-term therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues in noncirrhotic patients with hepatitis B e antigen–negative chronic hepatitis B. After stopping therapy, 13 of 15 patients experienced a virological relapse. Rebound of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis B core-related antigen was associated with induction of plasma tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL) 10 , IL-12p70, CXCL10 and subsequent decline in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), with 20% HBsAg loss after long-term follow-up. The peak levels of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis B core-related antigen after cessation of therapy were positively correlated with the level of HBsAg decline at week 48. Thus, stopping or interrupting NA treatment should be further investigated as a strategy to accelerate HBsAg loss.
Oxford University Press