Quantitation of HBsAg predicts response to entecavir therapy in HBV genotype C patients

Table 2 Clinical and virological results among the hepatitis B e antigen-negative group, the rapid-responders, and the slow-responders in the hepatitis B e antigen-positive group during 2 years of entecavir therapy

Characteristics	HBeAg-negative group	HBeAg-positive group		P value
	(n = 26)	RR (n = 14)	SR (n = 10)	RR vs SR
<Baseline data>
Age	58 (35-80)	45 (34-68)	43 (31-71)	NS
Gender (male:female)	13:13	9:5	6:4	NS
Disease (CH:LC/HCC)	21:5	13:1	6:4	NS
ALT (IU/L)	38 (13-950)	131 (12-602)	31 (13-108)	0.02
Platelet count (× 104/mL)	18.6 (3.4-35.1)	17.1 (8.4-22.4)	20.0 (11.0-26.8)	NS
Albumin (mg/dL)	4.3 (3.4-4.9)	4.0 (2.3-5.0)	4.4 (3.7-4.6)	NS
HBV genotype C	100%	100%	100%	NS
HBV DNA (log copies/mL)	5.1 (3.9-8.8)	7.4 (5.6-8.8)	8.3 (7.1-8.8)	NS
qHBsAg (log IU/mL)	3.17 (0.70-4.58)	3.63 (1.68-4.34)	4.57 (4.35-4.76)	< 0.01
HBcrAg (log U/mL)	3.6 (3.0-> 6.8)	> 6.8 (6-> 6.8)	> 6.8 (> 6.8-> 6.8)	NS
Pre-C mutation (%)	83.3	0	0	NS
Core promoter mutation (%)	58.3	57.1	50.0	NS
<At year 2 during therapy>
HBV DNA (log copies/mL)	0.0 (0.0-2.7)	2.1 (0.0-2.1)	3.5 (3.1-6.9)	-
ALT (IU/L)	18 (9-75)	17.5 (10-31)	23 (13-37)	NS
HBeAg seroconversion	-	23.50%	0%	NS
HBsAg seroclearance	0%	0%	0%	NS
qHBsAg (log IU/mL)	2.91 (0.62-3.9)	3.25 (1.70-3.92)	4.12 (3.23-4.47)	0.01
HBcrAg (log U/mL)	3.0 (3.0-5.4)	5.9 (4.0-> 6.8)	> 6.8 (5.2-> 6.8)	< 0.01
Resistant mutations against entecavir	UDL	UDL	0%	-

HBeAg: Hepatitis B e antigen; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; CH: Chronic hepatitis; LC: Liver cirrhosis; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; UDL: Under the detection limit; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; qHBsAg: Quantitation of HBsAg level; HBcrAg: HBV core-related antigen; NS: Not significant; RR: Rapid-responder; SR: Slow-responder.