Lai Xin, OuYang Wenxian, Li Shuangjie, Qiu Jun, Zhang Hui, Jiang Tao, Qin Xiaomei, Tang Lian, Gu Yingping, Yao Zhenzhen, Peng Songxu
Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.
The Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
J Med Virol. 2024 May;96(5):e29670. doi: 10.1002/jmv.29670.
This study aimed to assess the predictive capacity of emerging serological markers, serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg, for HBeAg seroconversion in children with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Treatment-naïve HBeAg-positive CHB children who admitted to the Liver Disease Center of Hunan Children's Hospital between April 2021 and September 2022 and received treatment with the combined entecavir and interferon-alpha treatment were recruited. Serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg were measured at baseline and Weeks 12, 24, and 48 of treatment. Our study showed that serum HBV RNA (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56-0.91, p = 0.006), HBcrAg (HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.84, p = 0.003), and HBsAg (HR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.36-0.69, p < 0.001) at Week 12 were independent predictors of HBeAg seroconversion. ROC curve analysis presented that serum HBV RNA decline value (ΔHBV RNA) at Week 36 and HBcrAg decline value (ΔHBcrAg) at Week 12 (AUC = 0.871, p = 0.003 and AUC = 0.810, p = 0.003, respectively) could effectively predict HBeAg seroconversion. Furthermore, the optimal critical values were determined and the children with ΔHBV RNA > 3.759 log10 copies/mL at Week 36 or ΔHBcrAg >0.350 log10 U/mL at Week 12 more likely to achieve HBeAg seroconversion. The serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg provide new insights into the treatment of CHB in children. Early assessment of serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg during treatment can assist clinical decision-making and optimize individualized therapeutic approaches.
本研究旨在评估新型血清学标志物血清乙肝病毒RNA(HBV RNA)和乙肝核心相关抗原(HBcrAg)对HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患儿HBeAg血清学转换的预测能力。招募了2021年4月至2022年9月期间入住湖南省儿童医院肝病中心、初治的HBeAg阳性CHB患儿,这些患儿接受了恩替卡韦联合α干扰素治疗。在基线以及治疗的第12、24和48周检测血清HBV RNA和HBcrAg。我们的研究表明,第12周时血清HBV RNA(风险比[HR]=0.71,95%置信区间[CI]:0.56-0.91,p=0.006)、HBcrAg(HR=0.60,95%CI:0.43-0.84,p=0.003)和HBsAg(HR=0.49,95%CI:0.36-0.69,p<0.001)是HBeAg血清学转换的独立预测因素。受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析显示,第36周时血清HBV RNA下降值(ΔHBV RNA)和第12周时HBcrAg下降值(ΔHBcrAg)(AUC分别为0.871,p=0.003和AUC为0.810,p=0.003)可有效预测HBeAg血清学转换。此外,确定了最佳临界值,第36周时ΔHBV RNA>3.759 log10拷贝/mL或第12周时ΔHBcrAg>0.350 log10 U/mL的患儿更有可能实现HBeAg血清学转换。血清HBV RNA和HBcrAg为儿童CHB的治疗提供了新的见解。治疗期间对血清HBV RNA和HBcrAg进行早期评估有助于临床决策并优化个体化治疗方案。