Hepatitis B Core Antigen Expression in Hepatocytes Reflects Viral Response to Entecavir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Autor: Dae-Young Kim, Seong Gyu Hwang, Myung Su Son, Harry Yoon, Kwang Il Kim, Jeong Guil Lee, Jeong Hwan Yoo, Kyu Sung Rim
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Gut and Liver
ISSN: 2005-1212
1976-2283
DOI: 10.5009/gnl.2013.7.4.462
Popis: Background/Aims Hepatitis B core antigen is known to be a major target for virus-specific T cells and also reflects the progression of liver dissease and viral replication. Hepatitis B core antigen expression in hepatocytes leads to altered histological activity, viral replication, and immune response. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the topographical distribution of hepatitis B core antigen expression can predict the viral response to entecavir in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods We enrolled 91 patients with treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B. All the patients underwent liver biopsy, and the existence and pattern of hepatitis B core antigen evaluated by immunohistochemistry. All patients received 0.5 mg of entecavir daily following a liver biopsy. We checked the viral response at 3, 6, and 12 months during antiviral therapy. Results Of the 91 patients, 64 (70.3%) had hepatitis B core antigen expression. Of the subcellular patterns, the mixed type was dominant (n=48, 75%). The viral response was significantly higher in the hepatitis B core antigen-negative group than in the hepatitis B core antigen-positive group (88.9% and 54.7%, respectively; p=0.001) after 12 months of entecavir therapy. Conclusions Chronic hepatitis B patients who are hepatitis B core antigen-negative have a better response to entecavir therapy than do hepatitis B core antigen-positive patients.
Databáze: OpenAIRE