Predictors for early HBeAg loss during lamivudine therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with acute exacerbation

摘要

PurposeTo examine the rate of early HBeAg loss and predictors of HBeAg loss in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with acute exacerbation (AE) treated with lamivudine.MethodsA total of 146 patients diagnosed with CHB and AEs were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups: decompensated and compensated.ResultsThe mean treatment duration for the decompensated and compensated groups was 18.1 and 19.9?months, respectively. Decompensated patients were significantly older and had a higher prevalence of cirrhosis and genotype B infection than compensated patients. Compared to compensated patients, decompensated patients achieved a higher rate of HBeAg loss (25.8 vs. 14.3%; P?=?0.0805) at 3?months of therapy, a higher rate of serum HBV DNA negativity (53.2 vs. 29.8%; P?=?0.0042), and a lower rate of rtM204V/I mutation (3.2 vs. 16.7%; P?=?0.0139) after 12?months of lamivudine therapy. The rates of HBeAg loss after 6 and 12?months of lamivudine therapy were similar between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender and baseline ALT level ≥1,000?IU/L, but not decompensations, were significant predictors of HBeAg loss at 3?months; however, only female gender was a significant predictor of HBeAg loss after 6 and 12?months of lamivudine therapy. The early HBeAg losers showed a significantly higher sustained remission rate off lamivudine therapy.ConclusionsFemale gender and baseline serum ALT level ≥1,000?IU/L were independent predictors of early HBeAg loss during lamivudine therapy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with AE.