What MELD score mandates use of entecavir for ACLF-HBV HBeAg-negative patients?

Tenofovir Versus Entecavir for the Treatment of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure due to Reactivation of Chronic Hepatitis B With Genotypes B and C

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) can be triggered by reactivation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) are now the most potent antiviral agents for CHB. This study aimed to compare the short-term safety and efficacy of TDF with ETV in the treatment of ACLF due to reactivation of CHB [hepatitis B virus (HBV)-ACLF].

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 67 consecutive patients with HBV-ACLF were divided into TDF group (n=32) receiving daily TDF (300 mg/d) and ETV group (n=35) receiving daily ETV (0.5 mg/d). They were prospectively followed-up and the primary endpoint was overall survival at 3 months.

RESULTS

At 2 weeks, the TDF group had significantly higher HBV-DNA reduction (P=0.003), lower HBV-DNA level (P=0.001), higher rate of HBV-DNA undetectbility (P=0.007), lower Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP; P=0.003), and model for end-stage liver disease (P=0.002) scores than the ETV group. At 3 months, HBV-DNA was undetectable in all survived patients; CTP (P=0.970) and model for end-stage liver disease (P=0.192) scores were comparable between the 2 groups, but markedly lower than at baseline (P<0.01); the TDF group had significantly higher cumulative survival rate than the ETV group (P=0.025). The white blood cell count (hazard ratio, 2.726; 95% confidence interval, 2.691-7.897; P=0.000), and HBV-DNA reduction (hazard ratio, 0.266; 95% confidence interval, 0.033-0.629; P=0.013) at 2 weeks were independent predictors for mortality. Both drugs were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

The short-term efficacy of TDF was superior to ETV for the treatment of HBV-ACLF. The white blood cell count and HBV-DNA reduction at 2 weeks were independent predictors for mortality at 3 months.

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.

Alpha-Fetoprotein as a Predictive Marker for Patients with Hepatitis B-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBACLF) is not fully understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of AFP on the prediction of HBACLF outcomes.

METHODS

We investigated a cohort of patients with HBACLF admitted from January 2013 to May 2017. The endpoint of followup was 180 days, death, or liver transplantation. AFP concentrations were estimated on admission. To make statistical comparisons, we used chi-squared test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, survivorship curve analysis, and Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS

A total of 92 patients (81.5% male, median age of 46 years) were included. Overall survival rate within 180 days was 43.48%, and the value of log₁₀^AFP⁡  ≥ 2.04 indicated a better prognosis with 76.9% specificity and 62.5% sensitivity for patients with HBACLF. Age (HR 1.041), total bilirubin (HR 1.004), log₁₀^AFP⁡  (HR 2.155), and INR (HR 1.446) were found to be risk factors of survival.

CONCLUSION

AFP could be a useful marker to predict outcomes of acute-on-chronic liver failure.

On-treatment and off-treatment efficacy of entecavir in a real-life cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Entecavir (ETV) is a potent nucleoside analogue with high genetic barrier to resistance. In this study, real-life clinical experiences in the long-term use of ETV and the durability of its off-treatment effectiveness were analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was based on a large real-life cohort of 2240 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with ETV between January 2006 and December 2012 using a centralized electronic data repository.

RESULTS

Among 2240 patients, 804 patients were treatment naive and underwent ETV monotherapy. Their mean treatment duration was 712±493 days, with a cumulative proportion of patients achieving HBV DNA less than 300 copies/ml in 85.8, 95.7, and 97.6% at years 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Predictors for earlier virologic response were female sex, lower HBV DNA, higher alanine transaminase, lower platelet count, and HBeAg negativity at baseline. In patients who achieved virologic response and HBeAg loss, the cumulative relapse rate was 91.3% in 2 years after the cessation of treatment. During the treatment, 34 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma, among whom 30 patients had cirrhosis before treatment initiation. ETV treatment showed efficient virologic response as the treatment duration was extended, but off-treatment efficacy was not durable, and the antiviral treatment showed some limitation in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma among liver cirrhosis patients, implying that treatment cessation should be taken into consideration more carefully.

CONCLUSION

This study from a real-life cohort may provide data on treating chronic hepatitis B patients more close to everyday clinical practice.

Chronic Hepatitis B with Spontaneous Severe Acute Exacerbation

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem with an estimated 400 million HBV carriers worldwide. In the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), spontaneous acute exacerbation (AE) is not uncommon, with a cumulative incidence of 10%–30% every year. While exacerbations can be mild, some patients may develop hepatic decompensation and even die. The underlying pathogenesis is possibly related to the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated immune response against HBV. An upsurge of serum HBV DNA usually precedes the rise of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin. Whether antiviral treatment can benefit CHB with severe AE remains controversial, but early nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment seemed to be associated with an improved outcome. There has been no randomized study that compared the effects of different nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) in the setting of CHB with severe AE. However, potent NAs with good resistance profiles are recommended. In this review, we summarized current knowledge regarding the natural history, pathogenetic mechanisms, and therapeutic options of CHB with severe AE.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure: consensus recommendations of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) 2014

The first consensus report of the working party of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) set up in 2004 on acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was published in 2009. Due to the rapid advancements in the knowledge and available information, a consortium of members from countries across Asia Pacific, "APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC)," was formed in 2012. A large cohort of retrospective and prospective data of ACLF patients was collated and followed up in this data base. The current ACLF definition was reassessed based on the new AARC data base. These initiatives were concluded on a 2-day meeting in February 2014 at New Delhi and led to the development of the final AARC consensus. Only those statements which were based on the evidence and were unanimously recommended were accepted. These statements were circulated again to all the experts and subsequently presented at the annual conference of the APASL at Brisbane, on March 14, 2014. The suggestions from the delegates were analyzed by the expert panel, and the modifications in the consensus were made. The final consensus and guidelines document was prepared. After detailed deliberations and data analysis, the original proposed definition was found to withstand the test of time and identify a homogenous group of patients presenting with liver failure. Based on the AARC data, liver failure grading, and its impact on the "Golden therapeutic Window," extra-hepatic organ failure and development of sepsis were analyzed. New management options including the algorithms for the management of coagulation disorders, renal replacement therapy, sepsis, variceal bleed, antivirals, and criteria for liver transplantation for ACLF patients were proposed. The final consensus statements along with the relevant background information are presented here.

Clinical utility of entecavir for chronic hepatitis B in Chinese patients

The People's Republic of China has one of the highest rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This review summarizes recent data from studies of entecavir, one of the recommended first-line oral therapies for treating chronic hepatitis B, in Chinese HBV-infected patients. Long-term treatment with entecavir is efficacious and well tolerated, and studies comparing entecavir with other nucleos(t)ide therapies, such as lamivudine, adefovir, and telbivudine, demonstrate superior antiviral effects for entecavir therapy and comparable safety profiles. Entecavir monotherapy and combination treatment with other nucleos(t) ide analogs has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of lamivudine-resistant and adefovir-resistant patients with HBV infection, as well as in patients with multidrug-resistant disease. Entecavir has also been shown to be effective in patients with HBV-associated clinical morbidity, including cirrhosis and liver failure, as well as in preventing recurrence of HBV following liver transplantation and in preventing reactivation of HBV after immunosuppres-sive therapy. Although the cost of anti-HBV therapy is a particular concern in the People's Republic of China, a number of studies have recently demonstrated that entecavir (particularly long-term therapy) represents a more cost-effective treatment strategy compared with other nucleos(t)ide therapies. Further research is required to assess the effects of entecavir combination therapy on hepatitis B surface antigen clearance, and in drug-resistant patients in the People's Republic of China.

Increased CD163 expression is associated with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure

AIM: To assess CD163 expression in plasma and peripheral blood and analyze its association with disease in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2012. Forty patients with ACHBLF (mean age 44.48 ± 12.28 years, range 18-69 years), 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (mean age 39.45 ± 12.22 years, range 21-57 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age 38.35 ± 11.97 years, range 28-60 years) were included in this study. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the frequency of CD163+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and surface protein expression of CD163. Real-time transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess relative CD163 mRNA levels in PBMCs. Plasma soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical variables were also recorded. Comparisons between groups were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 15.0 software and a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Flow cytometry showed that the population of CD163+ PBMCs was significantly greater in ACHBLF patients than in CHB patients and healthy controls (47.9645% ± 17.1542%, 32.0975% ± 11.0215% vs 17.9460% ± 6.3618%, P < 0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in mean fluorescence intensity of CD163+ PBMCs within the three groups (27.4975 ± 11.3731, 25.8140 ± 10.0649 vs 20.5050 ± 6.2437, P = 0.0514). CD163 mRNA expression in ACHBLF patients was significantly increased compared with CHB patients and healthy controls (1.41 × 10^-2± 2.18 × 10^-2, 5.10 × 10^-3± 3.61 × 10^-3vs 37.0 × 10^-4± 3.55 × 10^-4, P = 0.02). Plasma sCD163 levels in patients with ACHBLF were significantly increased compared with CHB patients and healthy controls (4706.2175 ± 1681.1096 ng/mL, 1089.7160 ± 736.8395 ng/mL vs 435.9562 ± 440.8329 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). In ACHBLF patients, plasma sCD163 levels were significantly positively associated with model for end-stage liver disease scores (r = 0.5075, P = 0.008), hepatitis B virus-DNA (r = 0.6827, P < 0.0001), and negatively associated with prothrombin activity (r = -0.3348, P = 0.0347), but had no correlation with total bilirubin (r = 0.2551, P = 0.1122). Furthermore, sCD163 was obviously elevated in non-surviving patients compared with surviving patients with ACHBLF (5344.9080 ± 1589.5199 ng/mL vs 3641.7333 ± 1264.5228 ng/mL, P = 0.0321).

CONCLUSION: CD163 and sCD163 may be related to disease severity and prognosis in ACHBLF patients.