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Host genetic variants and hepatitis B virologic features in HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers with long-term biochemical remission

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Abstract

Purpose

A significant portion of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients have persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels (PNALT). We thus investigated host genetic variants and virological features in HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers.

Methods

Baseline clinical and virological features of 133 HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers (77 with PNALT and 56 with chronic hepatitis activity) with follow-up for more than 5 years were investigated. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within or around human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPA1, HLA-DPB1, and interleukin (IL) 28B loci were genotyped.

Results

The genotype frequencies of these SNPs were comparable between hepatitis B carriers with PNALT and those with chronic hepatitis. Compared with hepatitis B carriers with PNALT, those with chronic hepatitis had significantly higher baseline serum HBV-DNA levels (4.96 vs. 4.04 log10 IU/ml, P = 0.001). Baseline serum HBV-DNA level > 2000 IU/ml (OR, 8.42; 95% CI, 2.74–25.90, P < 0.001) were the only independent factor associated with chronic hepatitis activity. Changes of serum HBV-DNA in 30 hepatitis B carriers with PNALT had showed a significant reduction of viral load from baseline to last visit (mean difference of paired HBV-DNA levels: −0.78 log10 IU/ml, 95% CI: −1.57 to −0.013, P = 0.047). In contrast, no significant reduction of viral load was found in 28 patients with chronic hepatitis.

Conclusions

The results indicate that lower baseline serum HBV-DNA level and viral load reduction over time are associated with long-term biochemical remission in HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grants from the Taipei City Hospital (to CL Lin), and the Department of Health, the National Science Council, Executive Yuan, Taiwan and Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan (to JH Kao).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Taipei City Hospital, Ren-Ai branch, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chih-Lin Lin

  2. Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chih-Lin Lin

  3. Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan

    Tai-Chung Tseng

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Tung-Hung Su, Chun-Jen Liu, Pei-Jer Chen, Ming-Yang Lai, Ding-Shinn Chen & Jia-Horng Kao

  5. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 1 Chang-Te St, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan

    Chun-Jen Liu, Pei-Jer Chen, Ming-Yang Lai & Jia-Horng Kao

  6. Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chun-Jen Liu & Jia-Horng Kao

  7. Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jia-Horng Kao

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  1. Chih-Lin Lin
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Correspondence to Jia-Horng Kao.

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Lin, CL., Tseng, TC., Su, TH. et al. Host genetic variants and hepatitis B virologic features in HBeAg-negative hepatitis B carriers with long-term biochemical remission. Hepatol Int 6, 598–605 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9297-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9297-4

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