title: Response to antiviral treatment in patients infected with hepatitis B virus genotypes E-H.
abstract: No data on antiviral response of HBV genotypes E-H are available so far although these HBV genotypes contribute significantly to the global HBV burden. Of 49 patients with HBV genotypes E-H, 23 received interferon (IFN)-alpha, 12 nucleos(t)ide analogues and 14 patients were untreated. HBV genotype was determined by direct sequencing of the HBV S gene. Sustained virological response in IFN-treated patients was defined as normalization of ALT and decrease of HBV-DNA <4,000 IU/ml 6 months after treatment. Virological response with nucleos(t)ide analogues was assumed in patients with a HBV-DNA <200 IU/ml after 48 weeks of treatment. HBV genotype E was found in 61.2% (n = 30), HBV genotype F in 8.2% (n = 4), HBV genotype H in 10.2% (n = 5) of patients. Among patients with HBV genotype G (20.4%; n = 10) there were four HBV genotype G/A and three HBV genotype G/C co-infections. Patients had Caucasian (43%), African (55%), or Asian (2%) background. End of treatment response was 70% (16/23) and sustained virological response was 35% (8/23) for patients treated with IFN-alpha. Sustained virological response was 36% for HBV genotype E (n = 5/14), 50% for HBV genotype F or H (n = 2/4), and 20% for HBV genotype G (n = 1/5). Virus suppression at week 48 was achieved in 67% of patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues. According to the present preliminary data HBV genotypes E, F, and H appear to be sensitive to IFN-alpha. Lower rates of response to IFN-alpha in patients with HBV genotype G might be related to the frequent occurrence of double infection.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Infektiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. erhardt@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erhardt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.forename: Amei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: George K K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcellin
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Bömmel
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heinzel-Pleines
authors.forename: Ortwin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Häussinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase