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Hsu YC, Tseng CH, Kao JH. Safety considerations for withdrawal of nucleos(t)ide analogues in patients with chronic hepatitis B: First, do no harm. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29:869-890. [PMID: 36916171 PMCID: PMC10577354 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2022.0420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) are widely used to treat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but they cannot eradicate the virus and treatment duration can be lifelong if the endpoint is set at seroclearance of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). As an alternative strategy, finite NA therapy without the prerequisite of HBsAg seroclearance has been proposed to allow treatment cessation in patients with sustained undetectable HBV viremia for two to three years. However, reactivation of viral replication almost always follows NA withdrawal. Whereas HBV reactivation might facilitate HBsAg seroclearance in some, it could lead to serious acute flare-ups in a certain proportion of patients. Occurrence and consequences of NA withdrawal flares are complicated with various factors involving the virus, host, and treatment. Accurate risk prediction for severe flares following NA cessation is essential to ensure patient safety. The risks of life-threatening flares in patients who discontinued NA according to the stopping rules of current guidelines or local reimbursement policies have recently been quantitatively estimated in large-scale studies, which also provided empirical evidence to help identify vulnerable patients at risk of devastating outcomes. Moreover, risk predictors were further explored and validated to hopefully aid in patient selection and management. In this narrative review with a focus on patient safety, we summarize and discuss current literature on the incidence of severe flares following NA cessation, risk stratification for candidate selection, rules of posttreatment monitoring, and indications for treatment resumption. We also share our thoughts on the limitations of existing knowledge and suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Chun Hsu
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hao Tseng
- School of Medicine College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Horng Kao
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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Hsu YC, Lin YH, Lee TY, Nguyen MH, Tseng CH, Ho HJ, Kao FY, Lin JT, Wu CY, Wu CY. Severe hepatitis B flares with hepatic decompensation after withdrawal of nucleos(t)ide analogues: A population-based cohort study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2023; 58:463-473. [PMID: 37341016 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Finite nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). AIM To quantify the incidence of severe hepatitis flares following NUC cessation in everyday clinical practice. METHODS This population-based cohort study enrolled 10,192 patients (male 71.7%, median age 50.9 years, cirrhosis 10.7%) who had received first-line NUCs for at least 1 year before discontinuing treatment. The primary outcome was severe flare with hepatic decompensation. We used competing risk analyses to assess event incidences and associated risk factors. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, 132 patients developed severe flares with hepatic decompensation, yielding a 4-year cumulative incidence of 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5%-2.2%). Significant risk factors were cirrhosis (adjusted sub-distributional hazard ratio [aSHR], 2.74; 95% CI, 1.82-4.12), manifestations of portal hypertension (aSHR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.45-4.18), age (aSHR, 1.21 per 10 years; 95% CI, 1.03-1.42) and male sex (aSHR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.04-2.38). In patients without cirrhosis or portal hypertension (n = 8863), the 4-year cumulative incidence of severe withdrawal flares stood at 1.3% (95% CI, 1.0%-1.7%). For those patients with available data confirming adherence to the standard stopping rules (n = 1274), the incidence was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.6%-2.0%). CONCLUSIONS Severe flares with hepatic decompensation were observed in 1%-2% of patients with CHB after stopping NUC therapy in daily practice. Risk factors included older age, cirrhosis, portal hypertension and male sex. Our findings argue against NUC cessation as part of routine clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Chun Hsu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsian Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Teng-Yu Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mindie H Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Cheng-Hao Tseng
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu J Ho
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Yu Kao
- National Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jaw-Town Lin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yi Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Public Health and Department of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ying Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Translational Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research and Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Maioli, Taiwan
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