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Zhang M, Li J, Xu Z, Fan P, Dong Y, Wang F, Gao Y, Yan J, Cao L, Ji D, Feng D, Zhong Y, Zhang Y, Hong W, Zhang C, Wang FS. Functional cure is associated with younger age in children undergoing antiviral treatment for active chronic hepatitis B. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:435-448. [PMID: 38376650 PMCID: PMC11014810 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10631-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Functional cure is difficult to achieve using current antiviral therapies; moreover, limited data are available regarding treatment outcomes in children. This retrospective study aimed to assess the frequency of functional cure among children undergoing antiviral treatment for active chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS A total of 372 children aged 1-16 years, with active CHB were enrolled and underwent either nucleos(t)ide analog monotherapy or combination therapy with interferon-α (IFN-α) for 24-36 months. All children attended follow-up visits every 3 months. Functional cure was defined as evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA loss, circulating hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss/seroconversion, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. RESULTS After 36 months of antiviral treatment and/or follow-up visits, children with CHB aged 1- < 7 years exhibited higher rates of HBV DNA clearance, HBeAg seroconversion, and HBsAg loss than CHB children ≥ 7-16 years of age (93.75% versus [vs.] 86.21% [p < 0.0001]; 79.30% vs. 51.72% [p < 0.0001]; and 50.78% vs. 12.93% [p < 0.0001], respectively). Longitudinal investigation revealed more rapid dynamic reduction in HBV DNA, HBeAg, and HBsAg levels in children aged 1-7 years than in those aged ≥ 7-16 years with CHB. According to further age-stratified analysis, HBsAg loss rates were successively decreased in children with CHB who were 1- < 3, 3- < 7, 7- < 12, and 12-16 years of age (62.61% vs. 41.13% vs. 25.45% vs. 1.64%, respectively; p < 0.0001) at 36 months. In addition, baseline HBsAg level < 1,500 IU/mL was found to favor disease cure among these pediatric patients. No serious adverse events were observed throughout the study period. CONCLUSION Results of the present study demonstrated that children aged 1- < 7 years, with active CHB can achieve a high functional cure rate by undergoing antiviral therapy compared to those aged ≥ 7 years, who undergo antiviral therapy. These data support the use of antiviral treatment at an early age in children with CHB. However, future prospectively randomized controlled trials are necessary to validate the findings of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Western 4th Ring Middle Road, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyao Fan
- 302 Clinical Medical School, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fuchuan Wang
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yinjie Gao
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianguo Yan
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lili Cao
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Ji
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Danni Feng
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanwei Zhong
- Department of Liver Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Western 4th Ring Middle Road, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Weiguo Hong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Western 4th Ring Middle Road, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Western 4th Ring Middle Road, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Fu-Sheng Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Western 4th Ring Middle Road, Beijing, 100039, China.
- 302 Clinical Medical School, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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