Hepatitis B Core Antigen Expression in Hepatocytes Reflects Viral Response to Entecavir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients
Gut and Liver
;
: 462-468, 2013.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-124625
ABSTRACT
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-naive 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.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Biopsy
/
Immunohistochemistry
/
T-Lymphocytes
/
Hepatitis B virus
/
Hepatitis B, Chronic
/
Hepatocytes
/
Guanine
/
Hepatitis
/
Hepatitis B
/
Hepatitis B Core Antigens
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Gut and Liver
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
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