title: Predictive value of precore hepatitis B virus mutations in spontaneous and interferon-induced hepatitis B e antigen clearance.
abstract: We previously reported two mutually exclusive mutations in the precore region of hepatitis B virus: M1 (T-1856, proline-serine substitution at codon 15) and M2 (A-1896, stop codon at codon 28). This study was conducted to determine if the presence of precore mutants affect spontaneous or interferon (IFN)-induced hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance. Sera from 201 hepatitis B e antigen positive Chinese patients (including 106 who participated in a controlled trial of IFN therapy) with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were analyzed by direct sequencing of HBV DNA after amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Forty-three (21%) patients had M1 (T-1856), and 20 patients (10%) had M2 (A-1896). During a follow-up period of 1 to 7 years, 75%, 28%, and 26% of those with M2 (A-1896), M1 (T-1856), and wild type sequence respectively, cleared HBeAg (P < .0001). Eighteen (67%) of 27 patients with wild-type sequence but none of 10 patients who had M1 (T-1856) in their initial samples developed M2 (A-1896) after loss of HBeAg (P < .0001). Sustained antiviral response was achieved in 55%, 0%, and 17% of interferon-treated patients who had M2 (A-1896), M1 (T-1856), and wild-type sequence, respectively, initially (P = .04). However, patients with M2 (A-1896) were also more likely to have elevated pretreatment aminotransferase levels (P = .02). In summary, HBeAg-positive Chinese patients with M2 (A-1896) were mor likely to clear HBeAg, and to do so earlier.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Akarca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D015335:Molecular Probes; D007372:Interferons