Serial HBV DNA levels in patients with persistently normal transaminase over 10 years following spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion

Earlier studies addressing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA cut-off level for inactive chronic HBV infection largely involved patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for only 1-2 years and based on a single time HBV DNA assay. This study was conducted to address this issue using serial HBV DNA assays in patients with persistently normal ALT (PNALT) over 10 years following spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. Serial serum specimens (mean 9 samples per patient) of 62 patients with PNALT and no disease progression over 10 years (median 18.1 years) after spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion were assayed for HBV DNA. Excluding assays within 1 year after HBeAg seroconversion, 21% and 82.3% of the patients with PNALT had HBV DNA levels persistently lower than 4 log(10) and 5 log(10) copies/mL, respectively, and only 8% had a level ≥ 5 log(10) copies/mL in at least two assays. Of the 27 patients with PNALT defined by ALT <30 U/L for male and <19 U/L for female, only 33% had serum HBV DNA level persistently <4 log(10) copies/mL. There was no significant difference in the serial HBV DNA changes among patients with different gender, HBV genotype or age at HBeAg seroconversion. Liver biopsy in nine patients invariably showed minimal necroinflammation and one showed Ishak fibrosis score 4. These results suggest that 5 log(10) copies/mL (20,000 IU/mL) is a more appropriate cut-off HBV DNA level for inactive chronic HBV infection in the setting of PNALT.     

非活动性HBsAg携带者临床特征及自发性HBsAg血清学清除相关因素分析

目的了解非活动性HBsAg携带者(inactive HBsAg carriers,IHC)临床特征及自发性HBsAg血清学清除相关因素。方法纳入2009年1月至2015年12月在北京佑安医院就诊且至少随访一次的IHC 289例,所有患者均未接受任何核苷类似物和(或)干扰素抗病毒治疗。将对随访过程中是否出现自发性HBsAg血清学清除患者进行差异比较。结果289例IHC的ALT水平为(21.40±7.64)U/L,血清HBsAg、HBeAg、HBV DNA水平分别为4592.00(2262.00,6741.00)COI、0.10(0.09,0.12)COI和430.05(213.25,824.25)IU/mL。血清HBsAg与HbeAg呈正相关(r=1.86,P<0.01),与年龄呈负相关(r=-1.82,P<0.01),与HBV DNA(r=0.09,P=0.58)无明显相关性。平均随访3年,其中17例(2.60%)患者发生自发性HBsAg血清学清除,年发生率为0.87%,其血清HBsAg、HBeAg、HBV DNA水平明显低于无自发性HBsAg血清学清除者(均P<0.01),而两组之间年龄、性别、肝功能等无明显差异。结论在IHC中,血清HBsAg与HBV DNA水平无明显相关性,血清HBsAg、HBeAg、HBV DNA水平较低者更易发生自发性HBsAg血清学清除。     

慢性乙型肝炎肝组织内HBsAg、HBcAg的表达及临床研究进展

一直以来临床将血清乙型肝炎e抗原(HBeAg)、乙肝病毒DNA(HBV DNA)阳性作为乙肝病毒复制的标志,随着肝穿活检及抗病毒治疗的研究进展,肝活检组织中乙肝表面抗原(HBsAg)和乙肝核心抗原(HBcAg)的表达模式与血清乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)DNA定量、肝组织炎症活动度分级及纤维化分期之间关系的临床研究日益增多,本文就HBsAg和HBcAg在肝组织的表达模式及临床研究进展综述如下.     

Spatial and chronological differences in hepatitis B virus genotypes from patients with acute hepatitis B in Japan

Genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were determined in 485 patients with acute hepatitis B from all over Japan. They were A in 92 (19%), Ba in 26 (5%), Bj in 32 (7%), C in 330 (68%) and D in 5 (1%). Sexual contacts were the main route of transmission in them. Overall, HBV persisted in only 5 of the 464 (1%) followed patients. Genotypes C accounted for more than 68% in northern as well as southern areas, contrasting with genotype A accounting for 34% in and around the Metropolitan areas. During 24 years from 1982 to 2005, genotype A increased from 5% to 33%, while genotype B gradually decreased from 26% to 8%. Fulminant hepatitis was significantly more frequent in infection with genotype Bj (41%) than those with the other genotypes (p < 0.01). The core-promoter double mutation (T1762/A1764) and precore stop-codon mutation (A1896) were more frequent in patients with fulminant than acute self-limited hepatitis (57% versus 15% and 58% versus 10%, respectively, p < 0.01 for both). In conclusion, genotype A distributes unevenly over Japan, prevails in younger patients through sexual transmission and has increased with years. Furthermore, fulminant outcome was more frequent in patients with genotype Bj than those with the other genotypes.     

Intrahepatic distribution of hepatitis B virus antigens in patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To study the intrahepatic expression of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) and hepatitis B core antigen(HBc Ag) in chronic hepatitis B patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 33 chronic hepatitis B patients(mean age of 40.3 ± 2.5 years), comprising of 14 HBe Ag positive and 19 HBe Ag negative patients; and 13 patients with hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma(mean age of 49.6 ± 4.7 years), were included in our study. Immunohistochemical staining for HBc Ag and HBs Ag was done using standard streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique on paraffin-embedded liver biopsies. The HBc Agand HBs Ag staining distributions and patterns were described according to a modified classification system. RESULTS: Compared to the HBe Ag negative patients, the HBe Ag positive patients were younger, had higher mean HBV DNA and alanine transaminases levels. All the HBe Ag positive patients had intrahepatic HBc Ag staining; predominantly with "diffuse" distribution(79%) and "mixed cytoplasmic/nuclear " pattern(79%). In comparison, only 5% of the HBe Ag-negative patients had intrahepatic HBc Ag staining. However, the intrahepatic HBs Ag staining has wider distribution among the HBe Ag negative patients, namely; majority of the HBe Ag negative cases had "patchy" HBs Ag distribution compared to "rare" distribution among the HBe Ag positive cases. All but one patient with HCC were HBe Ag negative with either undetectable HBV DNA or very low level of viremia. Intrahepatic HBc Ag and HBs Ag were seen in 13(100%) and 10(77%) of the HCC patients respectively. Interestingly, among the 9 HCC patients on anti-viral therapy with suppressed HBV DNA, HBc Ag and HBs Ag were detected in tumor tissues but not the adjacent liver in 4(44%) and 1(11%) patient respectively. CONCLUSION: Isolated intrahepatic HBc Ag and HBs Ag can be present in tumors of patients with suppressed HBV DNA on antiviral therapy; that may predispose them to cancer development.     

血清HBsAg、HBcrAg和HBV DNA预测慢性乙型肝炎肝组织病理状态的性能评价

目的评价血清HBsAg、HBcrAg、HBV DNA预测慢性乙型肝炎肝组织病理状态的性能。方法将324例HBeAg阳性和255例HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者随机分为3组匹配的训练集和验证集。血清HBsAg和HBcrAg分别采用Abbott Architect I2000和Fujirebio Lumipulse G1200全自动化学发光免疫系统检测,血清HBV DNA采用Bio-Rad Icycler荧光定量PCR仪检测。肝组织病理学诊断采用Scheuer评分系统,其中病理学分级包括G0~G4五级,分期包括S0~S4五期。结果无论HBeAg阳性或阴性患者,3个训练集与3个匹配的验证集性别比例和平均年龄、病理学分级和分期构成比之间的差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。HBeAg阳性患者,血清HBsAg、HBcrAg、HBV DNA预测全集病理学分级≥G3和分期≥S4的ROC曲线下面积最大;参照预测3个训练集病理学分级≥G3和分期≥S4的最佳截断值,血清HBsAg、HBcrAg、HBV DNA预测3个匹配的验证集病理学分级≥G3和分期≥S4的灵敏度极差分别为37%和9%、30%和16%、17%和14%,特异度极差分别为12%和5%、13%和3%、15%和6%。HBeAg阴性患者,血清HBcrAg、HBV DNA预测全集病理学分级≥G2和分期≥S2的ROC曲线下面积最大;参照预测3个训练集病理学分级≥G2和分期≥S2的最佳截断值,血清HBcrAg、HBV DNA预测3个匹配的验证集病理学分级≥G2和分期≥S2的灵敏度极差分别为11%和20%、46%和19%,特异度极差分别为15%和2%、38%和16%。结论 HBeAg阳性患者,血清HBsAg、HBcrAg、HBV DNA可预测的最佳病理状态为病理学分级≥G3和分期≥S4,其预测理学分期≥S4的稳定性高于预测病理学分级≥G3;HBeAg阴性患者,血清HBcrAg和HBV DNA可预测的最佳病理状态为病理学分级≥G2和分期≥S2,血清HBcrAg预测病理学分级≥G2和分期≥S2的稳定性高于HBV DNA。     

中药燕滨扶正胶囊降低CHB患者HBsAg、HBeAg滴度及脾肿大的临床分析

目的观察中药燕滨扶正胶囊通过调节人体免疫机能对乙型肝炎病毒学指标的疗效。探讨中药治疗乙型肝炎HBsAg、HBeAg滴度的临床疗效。方法将CHB患者随机分为燕滨扶正胶囊组（治疗组,23例）和ADV组（对照组,21例）。治疗组单用燕滨扶正胶囊,1．5g／次,3次／d,不用任何保肝及抗肝纤维化药物;对照组服用ADV,10mg／次,1次／d,并根据病情需要加服复方牛胎肝等护肝药物。两组疗程均为48周。结果两组治疗前后HBsAg、HBeAg比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。结论单纯运用中药“燕滨扶正胶囊”可使HBsAg、HBeAg、HBVDNA载量下降,改善脾肿大。     

血清HBsAg滴度监测对恩替卡韦治疗的HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者应答反应的预测价值

目的探讨HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者血清HBsAg滴度的动态变化对恩替卡韦（ETV）治疗反应的预测价值。方法选择2011年1月～2012年1月在我肝病中心住院及门诊接受ETV（0.5mg/d）治疗的HBeAg阳性CHB患者78例,随访1年。于抗病毒治疗的0、3、6、9和12 m分别收集患者血清,采用化学发光法定量检测各时间点的HBsAg和HBeAg滴度;采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测血清HBV DNA载量;采用Pearson相关分析分析HBsAg与HBV DNA水平相关性,采用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）预测患者的病毒学应答和确定最佳临界值。结果在78例患者中,69例（88.5%）患者发生病毒学应答（VR）,9例未发生病毒学应答;VR组患者基线ALT水平[（141.8±27.2）IU/ml]与未发生VR患者[（136.2±29.7）IU/ml]比,无统计学意义（t=0.27,P=0.793）;HBV DNA[（6.7±1.0）lg IU/ml]明显低于未发生VR患者[（7.6±0.8）lg IU/ml,t=-2.27,P=0.033];HBsAg滴度与未发生VR患者比,无统计学意义[（3.8±0.6）lg IU/ml对（4.0±0.4）lg IU/ml,t=-1.75,P=0.094）];HBsAg与HBV DNA水平呈正相关（r=0.45,P=0.02）;HBsAg在治疗开始的前3个月下降较快,3个月后下降较缓慢,从基线到治疗3个月时,VR组患者较未发生VR患者HBsAg下降更快[（0.3±0.2）lg IU/ml对（0.2±0.1）lg IU/ml,t=2.245,P=0.035）];在治疗3个月时,lg HBsAg滴度的ROC曲线下面积最大（AUC=0.840,P=0.005）,临界值为3.85 lg IU/ml的Youden指数最大（0.602）,其诊断敏感度为84.2%,特异度为78.7%。结论 ETV治疗3个月时lg HBsAg≤3.85 lg IU/ml可作为预测ETV治疗1年发生病毒学应答的指标。     

Anti-HBc screening in Indian blood donors：Still an unresolved issue

AIM：To study the seroprevalence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen （anti-HBc） in healthy blood donors negative for HBsAg and to evaluate whether anti-HBc detection could be adopted in India as a screening assay for HBV in addition to HBsAg. METHODS： A total of 1700 serum samples collected from HBsAg-negative healthy blood donors were tested for the presence of anti-HBc antibody （IgM ＋ IgG）. All samples reactive for anti-HBc antibody were then investigated for presence of anti-HBs and for liver function tests （LFTs）. One hundred serum samples reactive for anti-HBc were tested for HBV DNA by PCR method. RESULTS： Out of 1700 samples tested, 142 （8.4%） blood samples were found to be reactive for anti-HBc. It was signif icantly lower in voluntary （6.9%） as compared to replacement donors （10.4%, P = 0.011）. Seventy- two （50.7%） anti-HBc reactive samples were also reactive for anti-HBs with levels 〉 10 mIU/mL and 70 （49.3%） samples were non-reactive for anti-HBs, these units were labeled as anti-HBc-only. These 142 anti-HBc reactive units were also tested for liver function test. HBV DNA was detected in only 1 of 100 samples tested. CONCLUSION： Keeping in view that 8%-18% of donor population in India is anti-HBc reactive, inclusion of anti- HBc testing will lead to high discard rate. Anti-HBs as proposed previously does not seem to predict clearance of the virus. Cost effectiveness of introducing universalanti-HBc screening and discarding large number of blood units versus considering ID NAT （Individual donor nuclic acid testing） needs to be assessed.     

Mutations in surface and polymerase gene of chronic hepatitis B patients with coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs

AIM: To investigate the clinical significance and presence of mutations in the surface (S) and overlapping polymerase gene of hepatitis B patients with coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with chronic hepatitis B were studied. Of the 23 patients, 11 were both positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs), 12 were negative for anti-HBs while positive for HBsAg. DNA was extracted from 200μL serum of the patients. Nucleotide of the surface and overlapping polymerase gene from HBV-infected patients was amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced. RESULTS: Forty-one mutations were found within the surface gene protein of HBV in 15 patients (10 with coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs). Six (14.6%) out of 41 mutations were located at "α" determinant region in 5 patients (4 positive for HBsAg and anti-HBs). Eleven mutations (26.8%) occurred in the downstream or upstream of "α" determinant region. Lamivudine (LMV)-selected mutations were found in three patients who developed anti-HBs, which occurred in amino acid positions (196, 198, 199) of the surface protein and in YMDD motif (M204I/V) of the polymerase protein simultaneously. Presence of these mutations did not relate to changes in ALT and HBV DNA levels. CONCLUSION: Besides mutations in the "α" determinant region, mutations at downstream or upstream of the "α" determinant region may contribute to the development of anti-HBs. These mutations do not block the replicating competency of HBV in the presence of high titer of anti-HBs.     

拉米夫定治疗期间患者血清乙型肝炎表面抗原定量的变化

我们在应用拉米夫定过程中发现，随着患者血清乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）DNA的抑制，血清乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）定量有一定的变化，现报道如下。     

"免疫耐受期"慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者临床与肝脏病理学特点

目的 了解免疫耐受期慢性HBV感染者临床及肝脏病理学特征.方法 分析98例"免疫耐受期"慢性HBV患者年龄、性别、血清HBV DAN水平、肝脏炎症活动度及纤维化程度、肝脏HBsAg和HBcAg表达情况.并对不同血清ALT水平的肝脏炎症活动度及纤维化程度进行比较.采用X2检验.结果 98例患者中,＜30岁者83例,占84.7%,≥30岁者15例,占15.3%.有48.0%感染者的母亲HBsAg阳性.所有感染者血清HBVDNA为高水平复制,＞1×107拷贝/mL者占78.5%.仅5例感染者肝脏炎症活动度为Go,占5.1%;其中G1 64例,占65.3%;G2 29例,占29.6%.56例肝脏无明显纤维化(SO),占57.1%;S1 23例,占23.5%;S2 14例,占14.3%;S3 5例,占5.1%;未发现肝硬化.肝组织HBsAg阳性79例,占80.6%;HBeAg阳性80例,占81.6%.血清ALT在正常范围高水平的感染者肝脏纤维化程度明显高于ALT低水平者(X2=8.112 3,P=0.043 7).结论绝大部分"免疫耐受期"慢性HBV感染者肝脏存在轻度炎性反应,部分已出现纤维化;对"免疫耐受期"HBV感染者进行肝脏病理学检查,有利于正确判断病情和确定治疗方案.     

Efficacy of telbivudine in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with high baseline ALT levels

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine(LDT) in hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients who have high baseline alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels between 10 and 20 times the upper limit of normal.METHODS:Forty HBeAg-positive CHB patients with high baseline ALT levels between 10 and 20 times the upper limit of normal were enrolled and received LDT monotherapy for 52 wk.Another forty patients with baseline ALT levels between 2 and 10 times the upper limit of no...     

Wild‐type precore and core promoter sequences in patients with acute self‐limited or chronic hepatitis B

Background: Mutations in the precore region and core promoter were compared between patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B. Methods: There were 69 patients with acute self‐limited hepatitis B and 210 with chronic hepatitis B who had been followed for >15 years. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) of genotypes A, B and C was detected in 14 (23%), 8 (13%) and 28 (45%) of the patients with acute self‐limited hepatitis, respectively, in contrast to 11 (5%), 25 (12%) and 167 (80%) of those with chronic hepatitis. Results: At presentation, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in serum was the more common (82% versus 65%, P?P?P?15 years. Conclusion: HBV with the wild‐type sequences of the precore region and core promoter prevails in patients with acute self‐limited hepatitis, unlike in patients with chronic hepatitis.     

Hepatitis B surface antigen levels of cessation of nucleos(t)ide analogs associated with virological relapse in hepatitis B surface antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM: To investigate the virological relapse rate in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients after antiviral therapy discontinuation and analyze the factors associated with virological relapse.METHODS: Among patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection between May 2005 and July 2010, 204 were eligible for analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to calculate the cumulative rate of relapse and compare cumulative relapse rates between groups. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the predictive factor of virological relapse.RESULTS: The 2 and 1 year cumulative risks of virological relapse after antiviral therapy discontinuation were 79.41% (162/204) and 43.82% (71/162), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that only post treatment hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level was associated with virological relapse (P = 0.011). The cumulative risk of virological relapse was higher in the patients with HBsAg levels ≥ 1500 IU/L than in those with HBsAg levels < 1500 IU/L (P = 0.0013). The area under the curve was 0.603 (P = 0.033). The cutoff HBsAg value for predicting virological relapse was 1443 IU/L.CONCLUSION: We found that the virological relapse rate remained high after antiviral therapy discontinuation in the HBeAg-negative patients and that the post treatment HBsAg levels predicted virological relapse.     

干扰素治疗慢性乙型肝炎出现HBsAg/抗-HBs血清转换后病情复发

目的探讨干扰素治疗慢性乙型肝炎出现HBsAg血清转换后再转为阳性对病情的影响。方法 5例慢性乙型肝炎患者在使用干扰素治疗发生HBsAg血清转换,而后再现HBsAg阳性的病史特点、临床表现以及治疗过程中的肝功能、HBV DNA和HBeAg等变化情况。结果 5例患者接受干扰素治疗时间为3～15个月,在治疗开始后3～18个月发生HBsAg转阴;3例HBeAg阳性患者在HBsAg转阴之前或同时出现HBeAg转阴,但未发生HBeAg/抗HBe血清转换;5例患者HBsAb持续存在6～18个月后消失,且HBsAg在同时或之后复阳;1例患者在治疗后30个月时HBV DNA为3.36×106copies/ml,ALT为98u/L,开始接受替比夫定治疗;1例患者在干扰素治疗过程中发生白癜风。结论干扰素治疗慢性乙型肝炎患者出现HBsAg血清转换后再转为阳性可能与患者未出现HBeAg血清学转换、治疗时间不够长或肝内存在HBV cccDNA等有关。