Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06125-5. [Epub ahead of print]
Spontaneous Flares of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus in Hepatitis Be Antigen Negative Carriers Who Subsequently Clear Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.
Iluz-Freundlich D1, Samad N1, Miles D1, Osiowy C2, Kaita K1, Wong S1, Cuvelier S1, Peretz D1, Uhanova J1, Minuk GY3,4.
Author information
1
Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, John Buhler Research Centre, University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P4, Canada.
2
National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
3
Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, John Buhler Research Centre, University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P4, Canada. [email protected].
4
Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. [email protected].
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Acute exacerbations of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections can occur in HBV-infected, hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients in the absence of recent withdrawal of antiviral or immunosuppressive therapies. Whether these spontaneous "flares" predict subsequent loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has yet to be determined.
OBJECTIVES:
To document the percent of patients who experience spontaneous HBV flares and severity of the flares in chronic HBeAg-negative carriers.
METHODS:
A retrospective review of an HBV database identified and followed HBeAg-negative patients for biochemical evidence of flares (ALT > 5× normal) and subsequent HBsAg status. Patients that subsequently cleared HBsAg were matched 1:1 with those who remained HBsAg positive.
RESULTS:
Of 1299 HBeAg-negative patients followed for 10.2 ± 6.1 years, 88 (6.8%) developed spontaneous HBV flares. Flares occurred in 14/115 (12.2%) patients who subsequently cleared HBsAg and 4/111 (3.6%) matched patients who remained HBsAg positive (p = 0.025). The severity of flares was similar in the two study cohorts. Following multivariate analyses, only low HBV-DNA levels at baseline identified patients likely to subsequently clear HBsAg.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although more common in patients who subsequently clear HBsAg, spontaneous HBV flares do not predict subsequent HBsAg clearance.
KEYWORDS: