Treatment of chronic hepatitis B: update of the recommendations from the 2007 Italian Workshop

Management and Treatment of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Towards Personalized Medicine

The currently available antiviral treatments (Peg-Interferon-α and Nucleos(t)ide Analogues, NA) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) achieve a functional cure (serum HBsAg and HDV-DNA clearance) of HBV infection in a limited number of patients. Nevertheless, the continuous pharmacological suppression of viral replication by NA halts liver disease progression lowering the risk of HCC development and improving the survival. In the near future, to fully exploit the potential of old and new drugs for HBV treatment a personalized approach to the patients will be required according to an accurate definition of their virologic, immunologic and clinical profile.

Usefulness of a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Based Model for the Prediction of Functional Cure in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection Treated with Nucleos(t)ide Analogues: A Real-World Study

In patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) under long-term treatment with nucleso(t)ide analogues (NAs), the loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a rare event. A growing body of evidence supports the use of quantitative HBsAg for the prediction of functional cure, although these results are mainly derived from studies performed on Asian patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB. Here, we investigated the clinical role of quantitative HBsAg in a real-life cohort of CHB patients under treatment with NAs in a tertiary care center from North-West Italy. A total of 101 CHB patients (HBeAg-negative, n = 86) undergoing NAs treatment were retrospectively enrolled. HBsAg was measured at baseline (T0), 6 months (T1), 12 months (T2) and at the last follow-up (FU). Median FU was 5.5 (3.2–8.3) years; at the end of FU, 11 patients lost the HBsAg (annual incidence rate = 1.8%). Baseline HBsAg levels were significantly different between patients with no HBsAg loss and those achieving a functional cure (3.46, 2.91–3.97 vs. 1.11, 0.45–1.98 Log IU/mL, p < 0.001). Similarly, the HBsAg decline (Δ) from T0 to T2 was significantly different between the two groups of patients (0.05, −0.04–0.13, vs. 0.38, 0.11–0.80 Log IU/mL, p = 0.002). By stratified cross-validation analysis, the combination of baseline HBsAg and ΔHBsAg T0–T2 showed an excellent accuracy for the prediction of HBsAg loss (C statistic = 0.966). These results corroborate the usefulness of quantitative HBsAg in Caucasian CHB patients treated with antivirals for the prediction of HBsAg seroclearance.

Mitochondrial toxicity and body shape changes during nucleos(t)ide analogues administration in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Our study purpose was to evaluate mitochondrial (mt)DNA and RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and body shape changes (BSC) in HBV-infected patients. mtDNA and mtRNA were measured in PBMCs. The presence of BSC was evaluated through a questionnaire and clinical evaluation. A total of 157 subjects were enrolled, of these 107 were HBV-infected patients, 54 receiving nucleoside analogues (NAs, Group A), 53 naive to antivirals (Group B) and 50 age-sex matched controls (Group C). All HBV-treated patients had negative HBV–DNA. Twenty (37,0%) received lamivudine + adefovir, 20 (37.0%) tenofovir, 2 (3.7%) lamivudine and 12 (22.2%) entecavir. Therapy median duration was 38 months (IQR 20–60) in NA-treated patients. Group A showed significantly higher mtDNA/nuclear (n) DNA ratio (p = 0.000008) compared to Group C and Group B (p = 0.002). Group B showed significantly higher mtDNA/nDNA ratio compared to Group C (p = 0.017). Group A and B had significantly lower mtRNA/nRNA ratio compared to Group C (p = 0.00003 and p = 0.00006, respectively). Tenofovir and entecavir showed less impact compared to lamivudine + adefovir. mtDNA/nDNA ratio positively (Rho = 0.34, p < 0.05) and mtRNA/nRNA ratio negatively (Rho = −0.34, p < 0.05) correlated with therapy duration. BSC were significantly more frequent in Group A [10/54 (18.5%)] compared to Group B [3/53 (5.6%, p = 0.04)] and Group C [0/50, (p = 0.0009)]. In conclusion, long-term NA therapy was associated both to mitochondrial toxicity and BSC, showing significant differences in mtDNA and mtRNA levels. Tenofovir and entecavir showed lower impact on alterations, compared to 1^st generation NA.

Antiviral Therapy for AECHB and Severe Hepatitis B (Liver Failure)

This chapter describes the principles of antiviral therapy, treatment strategies, medications and recommendations for AECHB, HBV-ACLF, HBV-related liver cirrhosis, HBV-related HCC, and liver transplantation.

Severe exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B is closely related to continuous HBV replication. Therefore, inhibiting HBV replication to reduce viral load may block disease progression and improve the quality of life of these patients. ETV or TDF has been recommend first-line drug for the treatment of AECHB.

A hyperactive immune response due to continuous HBV replication is the main mechanism for development of severe hepatitis B. In addition to comprehensive treatment, early administration of potent nucleoside analogs can rapidly reduce HBV DNA concentration, relieve immune injury induced by HBV, and reduce liver inflammation and patient mortality. Antiviral agents have become important in the treatment of severe exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B.

Long-term antiviral treatment with nucleoside analogs can delay or reverse the progress of liver cirrhosis. Virologic response, viral resistance and adverse drug reactions should be closely monitored during treatment. The treatment should be optimized for maximum effect based on each patient’s responses.

Effective antiviral therapy can suppress HBV replication and reduce the incidence of HBV-related HCC. Patients with HBV-related HCC should receive individualized and optimal multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment. Anti-viral drugs with high efficacy, low resistance and low adverse drug reactions should be selected to improve the patient’s quality of life and prolong survival time.

Methods to prevent HBV reinfection after liver transplantation include passive immunization (HBIG), antiviral treatment (nucleoside analogs) and active immunization (hepatitis B vaccine).

Clinical trials involving sequential combination therapy with NUC and Peg-IFN have shown statistically significant decline in HBsAg levels on treatment and high rates of sustained post-treatment serologic response. Combination therapy with novel DAA and immunotherapeutic approach may hold promise to overcome both cccDNA persistence and immune escape, representing a critical step towards HBV cure.

Phyllanthus niruri versus Placebo for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a 12-month treatment with Phyllanthus niruri in subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A placebo-controlled, parallel-group double-blind trial was performed. Clinical assessments took place at baseline and at 1, 3, 9, and 12 months after the treatment start and 6 months after treatment end.

RESULTS

In the first 2 years, 50 eligible subjects with chronic HBV accepted to participate. Of those, 47 completed all the study-related visits (6% drop-out rate): 24 of the 26 (92%) allocated to the Phyllanthus group and 23 of the 24 (96%) allocated to the placebo group completed the study. No statistically significant differences in viral load were found between the intervention and placebo groups after 12 months and no subjects showed HBsAg clearance. With regards to safety, there were no changes in renal function parameters in both groups after 12 months and no serious adverse events occurred due to the treatment. The study was stopped at the end of the second year because there was no apparent benefit of the treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study does not support the use of Phyllanthus niruri for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with HBV-related chronic liver disease undergoing antiviral treatment: A preliminary study

In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, fibrosis assessment during antiviral treatment is a key step in the clinical management. Aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of elastography in assessing fibrosis stage in CHB before and after two years of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NUC) treatment in comparison with indirect serum markers. CHB diagnosis was made according to standard criteria. A clinical and virological evaluation was performed at baseline and again at 3, 6, 9, 12 18, and 24 months during treatment. Fibrosis was evaluated by liver biopsy, elastography and indirect serum markers. Of 75 patients, 50 had CHB, HBeAg negative and were deemed eligible for this study. Of these, 22 underwent liver biopsy. Mean histo-morphometric values of fibrotic tissue differed significantly in the stage < S3 vs. stage ≥S3: 2.01±2.62% vs. 12.85±7.31% (p=0.03), respectively. At 18 and 24 months, stiffness values were statistically reduced from those previously observed (P=0.03 and P<0.001). At 24 months the values of APRI, FIB-4 and LOK were not different from baseline values, while the value of FORNS score at 24 months was the only one statistically reduced. In two patients with fibrosis stage S3 and S6, respectively, fibrosis regressed to stage S2 and S5. In conclusion, the results of the present study show that liver histology, stiffness and FORNS score improve significantly during a long-term follow-up of HBV patients successfully treated with NUC. These results strongly suggest that the non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis represents a key step in the management and treatment of chronic HBV hepatitis.

Hepatitis B virus infection in undocumented immigrants and refugees in Southern Italy: demographic, virological, and clinical features

Background

The data on hepatitis b virus (HBV) infection in immigrants population are scanty. The porpoise of this study was to define the demographic, virological, and clinical characteristics of subjects infected with HBV chronic infection in a cohort of immigrants living in Naples, Italy.

Methods

A screening for HBV infection was offered to 1,331 immigrants, of whom 1,212 (91%) (831 undocumented immigrants and 381 refugees) accepted and were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBc). Those found to be HBsAg positive were further investigated at third-level infectious disease units.

Results

Of the 1,212 immigrants screened, 116 (9.6%) were HBsAg positive, 490 (40.4%) were HBsAg negative/anti-HBc positive, and 606 (50%) were seronegative for both. Moreover, 21 (1.7%) were anti-human immunodeficiency virus positive and 45 (3.7%) were anti-hepatitis C virus positive. The logistic regression analysis showed that male sex (OR: 1.79; 95%CI: 1.28–2.51), Sub-Saharan African origin (OR: 6.18; 95%CI: 3.37–11.36), low level of schooling (OR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.94–0.99), and minor parenteral risks for acquiring HBV infection (acupuncture, tattoo, piercing, or tribal practices, OR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.1–2.16) were independently associated with ongoing or past HBV infection. Of the 116 HBsAg-positive immigrants, 90 (77.6%) completed their diagnostic itinerary at a third-level infectious disease unit: 29 (32.2%) were asymptomatic non-viremic HBsAg carriers, 43 (47.8%) were asymptomatic viremic carriers, 14 (15.6%) had chronic hepatitis, and four (4.4%) had liver cirrhosis, with superimposed hepatocellular carcinoma in two.

Conclusions

The data illustrate the demographic, clinical and virological characteristics of HBV infection in immigrants in Italy and indicate the need for Italian healthcare authorities to enhance their support for providing screening, HBV vaccination, treatment, and educational programs for this populations.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-016-0228-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Missed treatment in an Italian HBV infected patients cohort: HBV RER

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Very little is known about the access to treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B in the real clinical practice and the characteristics of the patients who do not receive antiviral therapy.

METHODS

HBV-RER is an observational multicenter network that collected data of patients with HBV infection during a 3 years observational period (2009-2012).

RESULTS

Among 2527 HBsAg positive patients, 1099 were never treated (NT); only 280 were included in the analysis due to different exclusion causes A minority was HBeAg-positive. The median age was 42. At liver biopsy most patients had Metavir score of F0-F1. Univariate analysis between 280 NT patients and the 290 naïve to treatment showed that NT patients were mostly female (P=0.002), not Italian (P=0.044), younger (P<0.001). Metavir score was lower in NT (P0.002), such as the Fib4 score (P<0.001). HBV DNA level was significantly higher in NT. At multivariate analysis, independent variables associated with no-treatment were younger age, female gender, Metavir score F0-F1, Fib4 lower than 1.6 and lower blood level of HBV-DNA.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a large number of patients eligible to treatment who do not receive it. A younger age and a less severe disease seem to be associated to deferral of treatment.

Hepatitis B Reactivation with Novel Agents in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Prevention Strategies

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains an endemic disease in most parts of the world despite available prophylactic vaccines. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the most common hematological malignancy, and certain patients undergoing therapy are at increased risk of HBV reactivation. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, is well studied in HBV reactivation, but newer agents have been implicated as well. Here, we review novel agents suspected in HBV reactivation and effective strategies to prevent HBV reactivation. Fifteen years of literature were reviewed in order to better understand the reactivation rates of hepatitis B in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Anti-CD20 antibodies continue to be the main medications that can lead to HBV reactivation, and HBV reactivation rates have decreased with increased awareness. HBV reactivation is uncommon when using other novel agents. Entecavir and lamivudine remain the agents of choice to prevent HBV reactivation in high risk patients. In conclusion, the immunosuppressive effect of NHL and its therapy provide a pathway for HBV reactivation, especially in patients treated with anti-CD20 antibody. Since many HBV positive patients are often excluded from clinical trials of novel agents in NHL, more aggressive post-market surveillance of new agents, well-designed best practice advisories, and timely case reports are needed to reduce the incidence of HBV reactivation. Lastly, large prospective investigations coupled with well-utilized best practice advisories need to be conducted to understand the impact of more potent novel NHL therapy on HBV reactivation.

Acoustic radiation force impulse quantification of spleen elasticity for assessing liver fibrosis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between liver fibrosis and spleen stiffness measured by ARFI in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (B or C) and to explore the possible complementary role of spleen and liver ARFI in grading liver fibrosis.

METHODS

84 subjects (51 patients, 33 healthy volunteers) were enrolled. ARFI of the spleen and the liver was performed. Patients subsequently underwent liver biopsy for grading liver fibrosis according to Knodell scoring system. Multivariate logistic regression and decision tree analysis were adopted to test the relationship between spleen and liver stiffness (independent variables) and liver fibrosis (F1< vs. ≥F3). Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation was used for validating the predictive classification models. Area under the ROC curve (AUROCC) was used as accuracy metric.

RESULTS

Spleen ARFI was able to discriminate early (F1) from severe (≥F3) liver fibrosis with an optimal cut-off of 3.05 m/s: AUROCC 0.807, cross-validated AUROCC 0.614. Liver ARFI was superior to spleen ARFI, using a cut-off of 2.11 m/s: AUROCC 0.879, cross-validated AUROCC 0.672. Neither spleen nor liver ARFI was able to differentiate healthy volunteers from F1 patients. Odds ratios derived from logistic regression were 23.1 and 9.9 for liver and spleen ARFI, respectively; resulting AUROCC was 0.905 (cross-validated 0.848). A decision tree considering the sequential use of liver and spleen ARFI with cut-off of 2.14 and 3.39 m/s, respectively, resulted in AUROCC of 0.903 (cross-validated 0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Spleen ARFI has the potential to discriminate early from severe liver fibrosis. Spleen and liver ARFI, when combined, show a better discriminative power than liver ARFI alone.

Perception of hepatitis B virus infection reactivation-related issues among specialists managing hematologic malignancies: result of an Italian survey

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation strongly affects the practice of physicians dealing with hematological malignancies. In this respect, in collaboration with the Italian Lymphoma Foundation we developed a descriptive study of the real-life approach of physicians caring for patients with these diseases. A questionnaire was designed to explore the perception of HBV reactivation-related issues. Fifty-nine Italian Lymphoma Foundation-affiliated institutions participated, and 504 questionnaires were sent out. Forty institutions (67.8%) returned 154 (30.5%) completed questionnaires. The largest majority (91.5%, 141/154) were aware of possible HBV reactivation as a consequence of immunosuppression. Most of the participants providing an answer (93.3%; 126/135) performed universal screening, and were aware of strategies for managing reactivation (96.4%, 132/137). Specialists treating lymphoma show a high level of awareness concerning the management of HBV reactivation under immunosuppression. However, uncertainties regarding the issue of HBV reactivation still emerge in this setting, and thus continuing collaborative effort between hepatologists and hematologists is necessary.

Anti-HBs seroconversion during treatment with entecavir in a patient with chronic hepatitis B virus infection on hemodialysis

Hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection is one of the most important causes of liver disease in patients with end-stage renal failure on hemodialysis. The natural history of chronic HBV infection acquired in childhood starts with an immune tolerant phase, followed by an immune clearance phase that may lead to the inactive carrier state or the development of chronic liver disease. Information on antiviral therapy administered very early during the immune clearance phase are lacking and no data exist on the treatment of early immune activation in the hemodialysis setting. This report describes the case of a patient affected by end-stage renal failure and HBeAg-positive chronic HBV virus infection treated very early during the immune clearance phase of HBV infection with an adjusted-dose of nucleoside analogue entecavir. The patient achieved a very rapid HBV-DNA undetectability, anti-HBe, and anti-HBs seroconversion. This is the first report of antiviral therapy with entecavir started during the immune reactive phase of HBV infection in a patient on hemodialysis and it suggests that antiviral treatment can enhance the effects of host immune activation resulting in biochemical, serological, and viral response, even in end-stage renal failure patients with partial immunodeficiency. Antiviral therapy with entecavir in the setting of hemodialysis was safe and well tolerated.

Position paper of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF): the multidisciplinary clinical approach to hepatocellular carcinoma

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma should be managed with a multidisciplinary approach framed in a network where all the diagnostic techniques and therapeutic resources are available in order to provide the optimal level of care. Given this assumption, the Coordinating Committee of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver nominated a panel of experts to elaborate practical recommendations for the multidisciplinary management of hepatocellular carcinoma aiming to provide: (1) homogeneous and efficacious diagnostic and staging work-up, and (2) the best treatment choice tailored to patient status and tumour stage at diagnosis. The 2010 updated American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma were selected as the reference document. For each management issue, the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease recommendations were briefly summarised and discussed, according to both the scientific evidence published after their release and the clinical expertise of the Italian centres taking care of these patients. The Italian Association for the Study of the Liver expert panel recommendations are finally reported.

Treatment of children with chronic viral hepatitis: what is available and what is in store

BACKGROUND

At present, therapy of children with chronic hepatitis B and C is still based on few drugs, all burdened by a series of side-effects, unsatisfactory serum conversion rates, and/or drug-resistance. Moreover, selection of subjects to treat with conventional therapies is not univocal, especially during the pediatric age when the disease course is often mild with significant spontaneous seroconversion rate. Our review deals with pros and cons points when a physician decides to design a drug therapy for a child with chronic viral hepatitis, and different possible therapeutic opportunities.

METHODS

A literature search was performed through PubMed. The newest articles, reviews, systematic reviews, and guidelines were included in this review.

RESULTS

The management of children with viral hepatitis is still controversial over whom and when to treat and the use of drug(s). Novel therapeutic strategies have been evaluated only in clinical and preclinical trials involving, for instance, "therapeutic" vaccines. The data on safety and effectiveness of new drugs are also reviewed.

CONCLUSION

The results of reported studies confirmed that at least some of the new drugs, with greater efficacy and/or minor side-effects, will be used clinically.

Long-term outcome of hepatitis B virus-related Chronic Hepatitis under protracted nucleos(t)ide analogues

Long-term outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection under continuous nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) has been poorly elucidated. We enrolled 121 anti-HBe-positive patients into a prospective surveillance programme while on (>36 months) NUCs therapy. HBV-DNA clearance, add-on therapy and safety were evaluated. Development of cirrhosis, events of liver decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the follow-up were the main endpoints, as the complication-free survival. At baseline, 74 patients (61%) had chronic hepatitis, the remainders a cirrhotic liver. HBV-DNA levels >38 000 IU/mL were discovered in 103 patients. At enrolment, 79 patients were naïve to NUCs treatment. Lamivudine monotherapy (n = 70) or a different NUC (n = 51) was administered. At month 6 of therapy, HBV-DNA clearance was documented in 88 patients (73%). Treatment schedule was modified in 52 patients due to breakthrough or suboptimal response. During a mean follow-up of 6 ± 3 years, viral clearance was achieved in the majority of patients. Ten of 74 patients (13.5%) with chronic hepatitis progressed to cirrhosis, 1 patient developed a HCC. In the 47 patients with cirrhosis at presentation, HCC occurred in 14 (30%) and liver decompensation in 5 (11%). The 5 and 10-year event-free survivals were, respectively, 89.3% (95% CI, 81.7 -96.9) and 75.6% (95% CI, 61.5 -89.7) for patients with chronic hepatitis, and 70.2% (95% CI, 56.3 -84.1) and 40.4% (95% CI, 16.9 -63.9) for those with cirrhosis. Protracted, effective treatment with oral NUCs affects the natural history of chronic HBV infection by reducing the incidence of cirrhosis and risk of complications, but does not guarantee against the development of HCC in cirrhosis at presentation.

Lamivudine-resistant HBV strain rtM204V/I in acute hepatitis B

AIMS

To detect HBV rtM204V/I lamivudine-resistant strains in serum of patients with acute hepatitis B and to assess their biological and clinical significance.

METHODS

Eighty HBV DNA-positive patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis B observed from 1999 to 2010 were enrolled. A plasma sample obtained at the first observation was tested for HBV mutants in the polymerase region by direct sequencing; the antiviral drug-resistant rtM204V/I mutations, the most frequent HBV mutants in Italy, were also sought by the more sensitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

No HBV mutation associated with resistance to nucleos(t)ide analogues was identified by direct sequencing, whereas allele-specific PCR identified HBV strains carrying the substitution rtM204V/I in 11 (13.7%) patients. Compared with those with the HBV wild strain, patients with rtM204V/I more frequently showed severe acute hepatitis B (36.4% vs 8.7%; p < 0.05) and lower values of serum HBV DNA (1.77 × 10(6) ± 4.76 × 10(6) vs. 1.68 × 10(8) ± 5.46 × 10(8)). In addition, a multivariate analysis identified the presence of a pre-existing HCV chronic infection as independently associated with severe acute hepatitis B (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

HBV rtM204V/I lamivudine-resistant strains were detected in serum of 11 (13.7%) patients with acute hepatitis B by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. The frequent association of rtM204V/I with a more severe acute hepatitis B and with a lower viral load may suggest that greater and/or more prolonged immune pressure might have induced their selection.

How to manage HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection with normal alanine aminotransferase levels in clinical practice?

Many HBsAg-positive/HBeAg-negative patients show normal alanine aminotransferase levels. However, in this group of patients two different virological and clinical subsets do exist: inactive HBV carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis B with transient virological and biochemical remission. Natural history and outcome, severity of liver damage and need for liver biopsy and antiviral treatment differ significantly between these groups of patients. It is not always easy to distinguish between inactive HBV carriers and patients suffering from HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis with transient disease remission, as they share similar biochemical (normal serum ALT values) and virological (HBeAg negativity and low HBV DNA levels) features. In clinical practice, it is very important to differentiate inactive carriers from patients with chronic hepatitis B with spontaneous transient remission, as the former have a good prognosis with a very low risk of complications, while the latter have active liver disease with a high risk of progression to advanced hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, a careful assessment and adequate follow-up periods are needed. The aim of this review, written in the form of a dialog between a hepatologist and a newly diagnosed patient with HBV infection and normal alanine aminotransferase levels, is to give evidence-based suggestions for the management in clinical practice of HBsAg patients, on the basis of more recent international guidelines, covering many aspects of the condition, including advice on lifestyle and vaccination, indications for liver biopsy and treatment, the types and side effects of treatment and treatment endpoints.

IL28B polymorphisms predict interferon-related hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance in genotype D hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B

Interleukin (IL)28B polymorphisms have been associated with interferon (IFN)-induced viral clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Whether this is also true for patients with the difficult-to-cure hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unknown. One hundred and one HBeAg-negative patients (92% genotype D) with compensated CHB (84% males, 46 years; hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA: 6.0 log cp/mL; alanine aminotransferase [ALT]: 136 IU/L; 42% with cirrhosis) were followed up for a median of 11 years (range, 1-17) after a median of 23 months (range, 10-48) of either standard or pegylated (Peg)-IFN-alpha therapy. A post-treatment response was defined as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance with or without antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) seroconversion. The rs12979860 (C>T) genotype in the IL28B locus was assessed in serum samples by using Custom TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, CA). During a median of 11 years of post-treatment follow-up, 21 patients (21%) cleared serum HBsAg, including 15 who developed>10 IU/mL of anti-HBs titers. Forty-eight patients (47%) had CC genotype, 42 (42%) had CT, and 11 (11%) had TT, with the allelic frequency being 68% for C allele and 32% for T allele. The rate of serum HBsAg clearance was 29% (n=14) in CC compared to 13% (n=7) in non-CC, genotype carriers (P=0.039). Baseline HBV DNA levels<6 log cp/mL (odds ratio [OR], 11.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8-50.6; P=0.001), ALT levels>136 IU/L (OR, 6.5; 95% CI: 1.8-22.5; P=0.003), duration of IFN (OR, 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02-1.31; P=0.021), and genotype CC (OR, 3.9; 95% CI: 1.1-13.2; P=0.025) independently predicted HBsAg clearance.

CONCLUSIONS

IL28B polymorphism is an additional predictor of off-therapy IFN-related HBsAg seroclearance to be used in the pretreatment stratification of HBeAg-negative patients chronically infected by genotype D of HBV.

Tolerability and efficacy of anti-HBV nucleos(t)ide analogues in HBV-DNA-positive cirrhotic patients with HBV/HCV dual infection

We evaluated tolerability and virological and clinical impact of anti-Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) nucleos(t)ide analogues in cirrhotic patients with HBV/Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) coinfection. The virological and clinical course of 24 consecutive HBsAg/HBV-DNA/anti-HCV-positive patients with cirrhosis was compared with that of 24 HBsAg/HBV-DNA-positive, anti-HCV-negative cirrhotic patients, pair-matched for age (±5 years), sex, HBeAg/anti-HBe status and Child-Pugh class. Patients in both groups were previously untreated with oral antiviral agents at enrollment and were treated for at least 24 months (range 24-54). At the 12th and 18th month of treatment, HBV-DNA was negative in 21 (87.5%) and 23 (95.8%) patients with hepatitis B and C and in 20 (83.3%) and 22 (91.6%) in patients with isolated HBV; all patients in both groups were HBV-DNA-negative at month 24 and at subsequent observations. Treatment was well tolerated by all patients in both groups. At the last observation (for co-infected patients, median 44 months and range 24-54; for mono-infected patients, median 40 months and range 24-54), a deterioration in Child class was observed in eight (47%) of 17 patients in patients with both HBV and HCV who were HCV-RNA-positive at baseline, but in none of seven HCV-RNA-negative patients in the same group, and in one patient (4.2%) in the mono-infected patients. Reactivation of HCV infection was relatively infrequent (12.5% of cases) and never associated with a clinical deterioration. Treatment with nucleotides in HBsAg/HBV-DNA/anti-HCV-positive patients with cirrhosis showed a favourable virological effect in all cases, but a favourable clinical result only in the HCV-RNA-negative at baseline.

Clinical and virological response to entecavir in HBV-related chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis: data from the clinical practice in a single-centre cohort

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available on entecavir in Caucasian patients with HBV cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B who are treated in the clinical practice. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of entecavir in an Italian cohort of unselected patients with different stages of liver fibrosis, comparing the virological and clinical results obtained between patients with and without liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

Efficacy and safety of entecavir were retrospectively evaluated in 100 patients recruited in the Gastro-Hepatology Unit, San Giovanni Battista Hospital (Turin, Italy). A pharmacokinetic analysis was performed in 34 participants to assess whether cirrhosis may affect entecavir metabolism. Participants were followed-up for a median (range) duration of 21 months (2-108).

RESULTS

Rates of virological response (negative viraemia by PCR for ≥ 2 consecutive determinations) after 12, 24 and 36 months were 91.7%, 97.5% and 93.7%, respectively. In the 84 patients who were treated for ≥ 12 months, presence of cirrhosis (OR 1.730, 95% CI 1.082, 2.766; P=0.022) and absence of hepatitis B e antigen (OR 0.479, 95% CI 0.273, 0.842; P=0.011) were independent predictors of earlier clearance of serum HBV DNA. There were no differences between the serum concentrations in the steady-state level of entecavir between patients with or without cirrhosis. No significant differences were detected between the average area under the curve in the means of the two groups (P=0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Entecavir represents an excellent therapy in patients with HBV-related liver disease and particularly with cirrhosis where it showed a good profile of tolerability, higher efficacy and an earlier virological response.

Current practice of chronic hepatitis B treatment in Southern Italy

BACKGROUND

Treatment choice for chronic HBV infection is a continuously evolving issue, with a wide range of options. We aimed to evaluate the current practice of HBV therapies in the real world in Southern Italy.

METHODS

A prospective study enrolling over a six month period (February-July 2010) all consecutive HBsAg positive subjects, never previously treated, referred to 16 liver units in two Southern Italy regions (Calabria and Sicily).

RESULTS

Out of 247 subjects evaluated, 116 (46.9%) had HBV-DNA undetectable or lower than 2000 UI/ml. There were 108 (43.7%) inactive carriers, 103 (41.7%) chronic hepatitis, and 36 (14.6%) liver cirrhosis. Antiviral treatment was planned in 94 (38.0%) patients (26 cases with Interferon or Pegylated Interferon and 68 with nucleos(t)ides analogues). As many as 49.5% of subjects with chronic hepatitis did not receive antiviral treatment.

DISCUSSION

The majority of chronic HBsAg carrier referring centres for evaluation were not considered suitable for antiviral treatment. Nucleos(t)ides analogues are the preferred first choice for therapy. A long-lasting period of observation may be needed to make appropriate therapeutic decisions in several cases.

Metabonomic Evaluation of ZHENG Differentiation and Treatment by Fuzhenghuayu Tablet in Hepatitis-B-Caused Cirrhosis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), treatment based on ZHENG (also called TCM syndrome and pattern) differentiation has been applied for about 3 thousand years, while there are some difficulties to communicate with western medicine. In the present work, metabonomic methods were utilized to differentiate ZHENG types and evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of Fuzhenghuayu (FZHY) tablet in hepatitis-B-caused cirrhosis (HBC). Urine samples of 12 healthy volunteers (control group, CG) and 31 HBC patients (HBCG) were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and multivariate statistical analysis. The significantly changed metabolites between CG and HBCG were selected by PLS-DA loading plot analysis. Moreover, 4 ZHENGs were differentiated mutually, suggesting that there was urine metabolic material basis in ZHENG differentiation. The efficiency of FZHY tablet on subjects with spleen deficiency with dampness encumbrance syndrome (SDDES) and liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome (LKYDS) was better than that of other syndromes. The efficiency of FZHY treatment based on ZHENG differentiation indicated that accurately ZHENG differentiating could guide the appropriate TCM treatment in HBC.