title: HBV-DNA level at 6 months of entecavir treatment predicts HBeAg loss in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether on-treatment HBV-DNA level could predict the treatment response to entecavir in hepatitis B e antigen (HBe)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 68 treatment-naïve HBeAg-positive patients (75% male, mean age at 46.6 ± 11.9 years) receiving at least 2 years of entecavir therapy were enrolled. The primary therapeutic endpoint was HBeAg loss. On-treatment complete virological response was defined as serum HBV-DNA < 63 IU/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV-DNA levels were 199.5 (27-1622) U/L and 7.7 (3.8-13.2) log10 IU/mL, respectively. The median treatment duration was 31.7 (24.3-69.6) months. The rate of HBeAg loss at 2 years was 30.9%. By univariate analysis, on-treatment complete virological response at Month 6 was associated with HBeAg loss at 2 years (p = 0.019). After adjustment for age, sex, cirrhosis, baseline ALT, and HBV-DNA levels, this factor remained significant in multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 4.35; 95% confidence interval: 1.24-15.24, p = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On-treatment complete virological response at Month 6 is a favorable factor predictive of HBeAg loss at 2 years of entecavir therapy. Therefore, measurement of serum HBV-DNA level at 6 months of entecavir therapy is optimal to predict HBeAg loss at 2 years of therapy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients.
authors: School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Cheng-Yuan
authors: CY
authors: Peng
authors: Institute of Medical Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors: Tsung-Cheng
authors: TC
authors: Hsieh
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tsai-Yuan
authors: TY
authors: Hsieh
authors: Department of Hepatology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Da-Lin Branch, Hualien, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors: Kuo-Chih
authors: KC
authors: Tseng
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Taipei City Hospital, Ren-Ai Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Lin
authors: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tung-Hung
authors: TH
authors: Su
authors: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Department of Hepatology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Tai-Chung
authors: TC
authors: Tseng
authors: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Department of Hepatology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Hans Hsienhong
authors: HH
authors: Lin
authors: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Department of Hepatology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Electronic address: uld888@yahoo.com.tw.
authors: Chia-Chi
authors: CC
authors: Wang
authors: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: kaojh@ntu.edu.tw.
authors: Jia-Horng
authors: JH
authors: Kao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: HBeAg loss; chronic hepatitis B; complete virological response; entecavir; hepatitis B e antigen