title: Quantitative hepatitis B core antibody level is a new predictor for treatment response in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving peginterferon.
abstract: A recent study revealed that quantitative hepatitis B core antibody (qAnti-HBc) level could serve as a novel marker for predicting treatment response. In the present study, we further investigated the predictive value of qAnti-HBc level in HBeAg-positive patients undergoing PEG-IFN therapy. A total of 140 HBeAg-positive patients who underwent PEG-IFN therapy for 48 weeks and follow-up for 24 weeks were enrolled in this study. Serum samples were taken every 12 weeks post-treatment. The predictive value of the baseline qAnti-HBc level for treatment response was evaluated. Patients were further divided into 2 groups according to the baseline qAnti-HBc level, and the response rate was compared. Additionally, the kinetics of the virological and biochemical parameters were analyzed. Patients who achieved response had a significantly higher baseline qAnti-HBc level (serological response [SR], 4.52±0.36 vs. 4.19±0.58, p=0.001; virological response [VR], 4.53±0.35 vs. 4.22±0.57, p=0.005; combined response [CR], 4.50±0.36 vs. 4.22±0.58, p=0.009)). Baseline qAnti-HBc was the only parameter that was independently correlated with SR (p=0.008), VR (p=0.010) and CR(p=0.019). Patients with baseline qAnti-HBc levels ≥30,000 IU/mL had significantly higher response rates, more HBV DNA suppression, and better hepatitis control in PEG-IFN treatment. In conclusion, qAnti-HBc level may be a novel biomarker for predicting treatment response in HBeAg-positive patients receiving PEG-IFN therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China;
authors.forename: Feng-Qin
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China;
authors.forename: Liu-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China;
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China;
authors.forename: Lin-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China;
authors.forename: Sheng-Xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China;
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 3. Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;
authors.forename: Ji-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: 4. Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China;
authors.forename: Dong-Ying
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: 5. Department of Infectious Diseases, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China;
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: 6. Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China;
authors.forename: Shu-Huan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 7. Department of Infectious Diseases, Tang Du Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China;
authors.forename: Yong-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 8. Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China;
authors.forename: Shao-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: 9. Department of Infectious Diseases, PLA 81st Hospital, Nanjing, China;
authors.forename: Mao-Rong
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 10. Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Military Medical University Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China;
authors.forename: Mo-Bin
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: 11. Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China;
authors.forename: Ji-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: 12. Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China;
authors.forename: Guang-Han
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: 13. Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: 14. Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China;
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 15. Center for Liver Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University, Changchun, China;
authors.forename: Jun-Qi
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: 16. Xiamen Amoytop Biotech Co. Ltd, Xiamen, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 16. Xiamen Amoytop Biotech Co. Ltd, Xiamen, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 2. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China;
authors.forename: Ning-Shao
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China;
authors.forename: Gui-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha
keywords: PEG-IFN treatment; chronic hepatitis B; pretreatment biomarker.; quantitative anti-HBc; treatment response prediction