Hepatitis B Core Antigen Expression in Hepatocytes Reflects Viral Response to Entecavir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.
- Author:
Jeong Guil LEE
1
;
Seong Gyu HWANG
;
Harry YOON
;
Myung Su SON
;
Dae Young KIM
;
Jeong Hwan YOO
;
Kwang Il KIM
;
Kyu Sung RIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea. sghwang@cha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B virus;
Chronic hepatitis B;
Hepatitis B core antigen;
Hepatitis B e antigen;
Entecavir
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Guanine;
Hepatitis;
Hepatitis B;
Hepatitis B Core Antigens;
Hepatitis B virus;
Hepatitis B, Chronic;
Hepatitis, Chronic;
Hepatocytes;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Liver;
T-Lymphocytes
- From:Gut and Liver
2013;7(4):462-468
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: 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-naive 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.
