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Objective@#To explore the characteristics underlying Th1/Th2/Th17 expression level after entecavir (ETV) discontinuation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who were HBeAg-positive and define the role of Th1/Th2/Th17 in maintaining virological response after ETV discontinuation.@*Methods@#We selected 112 HBeAg positive CHB patients who met the withdrawal criteria according to the guideline of prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (2010 version), and we also separated them into virology sustained response (SVR) group and virological relapse (VR) group according to the recurrence in 52 weeks. We detected serum level of Th1/Th2/h17 related cytokines during 0, 12, 24 and 52 weeks follow-up to further analyze their dynamic changes and expression differences.@*Results@#The results of the study reveals that serum levels of IFN-γ in the group of SVR were at a higher level compared with VR group during follow-up (all P<0.05). While, the serum level of IL-10 decreased in SVR group and was lower than the paired IL-10 level in VR group with significance during follow-up. In VR group, the serum level of IFN-γ decreased during the first 24 weeks after ETV withdrawal, and after then, the level rose. The serum levels of IFN-γ (Th1) in SVR patients were significantly higher than those in VR patients in the different follow-up time points after ETV discontinuation (all P<0.05). And the serum levels of IL-10 (Th2) in SVR patients were significantly lower than that in VR patients (all P<0.05). The comparison of serum levels of IL-17A (Th17) between the two groups had no significant difference (all P>0.005).@*Conclusions@#The serum level of IFN-γ in SVR group maintained a high level is conducive to maintaining virological response after ETV withdrawal and high level of IL-10 may be related to virologic relapse.
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Objective To study the correlation between interleukin(IL)-21 and the recurrence of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)in hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive patients after discontinuation of entecavir(ETV).Methods A total of 112 HBeAg-positive CHB patients treated with ETV were enrolled.Serum levels of IL-21 at week 0,12,24 and 52 after ETV discontinuation were detected.The Cox regression model was used to analyze the correlation between IL-21 and the recurrence after ETV discontinuation.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to determine the predictive value of IL-21 for CHB recurrence after ETV discontinuation.The expression differences of IL-21 were compared between sustained viral response(SVR)group and viral relapse(VR)group.The t test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis.Results The serum levels of IL-21 in SVR group at week 0,12,24 and 52 after ETV withdrawal were(60.0 ± 10.8),(60.2 ± 14.7),(60.6 ± 19.5)and (61.2 ± 15.4)ng/L,respectively,which were all significantly higher than those in VR group(47.5 ± 10.7),(47.3 ± 12.9),(46.9 ± 12.2)and(46.4 ± 12.8)ng/L,respectively(t=6.153,4.926,4.382 and 5.515,respectively,all P< 0.01).The area under curve(AUC)was 0.811(95% CI:0.728 ~0.893,P<0.01)and the best cut-off value of serum IL-21 level was 49.8 ng/L.The recurrence rates of patients with serum IL-21 level ≥49.8 ng/L and <49.8 ng/L at time of ETV withdrawal was 25.4%(16/63)and 77.6%(38/49),respectively.The difference was statistically significant(χ2=30.027,P<0.01).The serum IL-21 level at the time of drug withdrawal(P= 0.005),serum hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)level at the time of HBeAg seroconversion(P= 0.008)and age(P= 0.016)were factors associated with CHB recurrence after ETV withdrawal by multivariate Cox model analysis.The serum levels of ALT,HBV DNA,HBeAg and HBsAg in SVR group were significantly lower than those of VR group at week 12,24 and 52 after ETV withdrawal(t= -5.968,-7.691,-8.093; -3.047,-9.477,-28.900;-2.872,-10.424,-18.330;-4.633,-4.030 and -5.032,respectively;all P<0.01).Serum level of IL-21 was negatively correlated with HBsAg in SVR group after ETV withdrawal (r= -0.241,P<0.01),while positively correlated with HBsAg in VR group(r=0.286,P<0.01). Conclusions The serum IL-21 level at the time of drug withdrawal is associated with the recurrence after ETV discontinuation.IL-2l may play an important role as an immunomodulatory factor in maintaining virological responses in HBeAg-positive CHB patients after ETV withdrawal.
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ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of enteeavir (ETV) in patients with advanced schistosomiasis and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection.Methods Totally sixty patients with advanced schistosomiasis and HBV co-infection were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into ETV treatment group (n=30) and rhubarb treatment group who refused to receive antiviral treatment (n=30).The patients were treated with ETV or rhubarb thelepus ball on the basis of routine supportive therapy for 52 weeks.The hepatic fibrosis markers (e.g.hyaluronic acid,type Ⅲ procollagen,type Ⅳ collagen,laminin and fibronectin),alanine transaminase (ALT),HBV DNA,Child-Pugh score between two groups were compared.Intention to treat (ITT) population was used for analysis.The measurement data and the enumeration data were analyzed by t test and x2 test,respectively.ResultsAfter 52-week treatment,the hepatic fibrosis markers (hyaluronic acid,type Ⅲ procollagen,type Ⅳ collagen,laminin and fibronectin) were significantly improved in ETV treatment group compared to the rhubarb treatment group (t =3.952,3.765,3.857,3.122 and 3.735,respectively; all P＜0.05),and the fibrosis of liver tissue in ETV treatment group was significantly improved compared with rhubarb treatment group (x2 =11.207,P＜0.05).The ALT level,HBV DNA,Child-Pugh score after 52-weeks treatment in ETV treatment group were statistically reduced compared with rhubarb treatment group (t =3.287,4.382 and 3.872,respectively; all P＜0.05),meanwhile,the ALT normalization rate and HBV DNA undetectable rate were significantly increased in ETV treatment group (x2 =17.376 and 39.095,respectively; both P＜0.05).In addition,no obvious adverse reaction was observed during ETV treatment.Conclusion Entecavir is safe and effective in patients with advanced schistosomiasis and HBV co-infection.
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0.05).At week 52,there was significant difference in the undetectable HBV DNA rate between group C and group B(P0.05),and the rate of drug resistant genotype was 21.9%(7/32)、0、0(P