Hepatitis B Core Antigen Expression in Hepatocytes Reflects Viral Response to Entecavir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 462 - 468
• Main Authors: Lee, Jeong Guil, Hwang, Seong Gyu, Yoon, Harry, Son, Myung Su, Kim, Dae Young, Yoo, Jeong Hwan, Kim, Kwang Il, Rim, Kyu Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Gastroenterology; the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver; the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility; Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases; Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research; Korean Pancreatobiliary Association; Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Cancer 01.07.2013; Gastroenterology Council for Gut and Liver; 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회
• Subjects: chronic hepatitis b; entecavir; hepatitis b core antigen; hepatitis b e antigen; hepatitis b virus; Original; 내과학; Hepatitis B e antigen; Hepatitis B virus; Chronic hepatitis B; Hepatitis B core antigen; Entecavir
• ISSN: 1976-2283; 2005-1212
• DOI: 10.5009/gnl.2013.7.4.462

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. 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. 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. 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.