title: Hepatitis B core antigen expression in hepatocytes reflects viral response to entecavir in chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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-naïve 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Guil
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seong Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Myung Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kwang Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rim
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Entecavir; Hepatitis B core antigen; Hepatitis B e antigen; Hepatitis B virus
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