title: Relapse rate and associated-factor of recurrence after stopping NUCs therapy with different prolonged consolidation therapy in HBeAg positive CHB patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients recur after off-therapy and have to accept prolonged consolidation therapy with NUCs. We investigated the rate of HBV relapse after stopping NUCs therapy with different time period of prolonged consolidation therapy in HBeAg positive CHB patients, and analyzed the associated-factor of recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 162 HBeAg-positive CHB patients who met the standard of stopping NUCs therapy recommended by the 2005 APASL. Patients in group A, without the prolonged consolidation therapy, were as controls. Patients in group B were divided into 3 subgroups (group B1, 7 (range 3-11) months of the prolonged consolidation therapy; group B2, 17 (range 13-20) months of the prolonged consolidation therapy; group B3, 28 (range 25-34) months of the prolonged consolidation therapy). Virologic relapse was defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA to >10(3)copies/ml after off-therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty-six patients (group A, 40 patients; group B1, 54 patients; group B2, 23 patients; group B3, 19 patients) were eligible for this study. The cumulative rates of relapse in group B at 6 months and 48 months were 29.2%, 41.7% after off-therapy, respectively. The cumulative rates of relapse in group B were statistically lower than that in group A at the same time periods. The cumulative rate of relapse in group B3 or group B2 was statistically lower than that in group B1, respectively. On multivariate analysis by Cox's proportional hazard model, age at off-therapy, baseline ALT and the different time period of the prolonged consolidation therapy were associated with the relapse of HBV after off-therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consolidation therapy with NUCs after HBeAg seroconversion should be further prolonged. Age at off-therapy, ALT at baseline and the time period of the prolonged consolidation therapy could provide information to direct anti-viral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xingfei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiayi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xuejun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Qingqiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qihuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens