Changes in serum histologic surrogate markers and procollagen III N-terminal peptide as independent predictors of HBeAg loss in patients with chronic hepatitis B during entecavir therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to determine the changes in serum histologic surrogate markers and to identify the serum markers predicting treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during entecavir treatment.


METHODS
Sixty CHB patients who received entecavir for 12 months were included. We assessed serum markers of liver fibrosis and/or inflammation at baseline and after 12 months of entecavir treatment.


RESULTS
The procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) and TIMP1, MMP2, hyaluronic acid and cytokeratin 18 fragment levels were significantly decreased and the haptoglobin level was significantly increased from baseline after entecavir treatment. Multivariate analysis identified PIIINP (P=0.028) and the initial virologic response (P=0.019) as independent predictors of HBeAg loss.


CONCLUSIONS
During entecavir treatment, most serum markers of liver fibrosis and inflammation improved in patients with CHB. The PIIINP level at baseline and the initial virologic response are independent predictors of HBeAg loss.
Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Jee Hoon
JH
Koo
Myoung Hee
MH
Lee
Soon Sun
SS
Kim
Dong Hoon
DH
Kim
In Sung
IS
Kim
Kee Myung
KM
Lee
Byung Moo
BM
Yoo
Kwang Jae
KJ
Lee
Jin Hong
JH
Kim
Sung Won
SW
Cho
Jae Youn
JY
Cheong
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D053538:Keratin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D053538:Keratin-18; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2