1
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
2
Clinical Research and Medical Innovation Center, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
3
Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
4
The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Japan.
PMID: 35352445 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13768
Abstract
Background & aims: Benefits of nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reduction and interferon-lambda3 (IFN-λ3) induction are still not known. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NAs on HBsAg reduction and association with serum IFN-λ3 levels in chronic hepatitis B patients.
Methods: A total of 91 patients [51 treated with nucleoside analog entecavir hydrate (ETV) and 40 treated with nucleotide analog adefovir dipivoxil (ADF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)] with clinically evident chronic hepatitis B (chronic hepatitis, 57; liver cirrhosis, 34) were enrolled in this study. Serum IFN-λ3 levels among patients receiving ETV and ADV/TDF were measured before the initiation of therapy and 1, 3, and 5 years post-therapy.
Results: The change (mean ± standard deviation) in serum HBsAg levels from baseline to year 5 was -0.38±0.46 and -0.84±0.64 log10 IU/mL in ETV and ADV/TDF groups, respectively (P = 0.0004). Higher serum IFN-λ3 levels were observed in ADV/TDF group compared with ETV group during treatment (P < 0.001). Serum IFN-λ3 levels showed negative correlation with HBsAg reduction in ADV/TDF group (r = -0.386, P = 0.038) at week 48. Nucleotide analogs (ADV/TDF) treatment has associated factors with -0.3 log HBsAg decline at 1 year, -0.5 log HBsAg decline at 3 year, and -0.8 log HBsAg decline at 5 year after NAs treatment on multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: Nucleotide analog (ADV/TDF) treatment reduced HBsAg levels greater compared with nucleoside analog (ETV) in parallel with IFN-λ3 induction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.