Clinical follow-up of children with immune-tolerant chronic hepatitis B receiving antiviral therapy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the long-term clinical benefits of antiviral therapy in children with immune-tolerant chronic hepatitis B. Methods Long-term follow-up was performed for 46 children with immune-tolerant chronic hepatitis B who were enrolled in the treatment group of the previous randomized controlled trial, and clinical evaluation was performed at weeks 108, 120, 132, 144, 168, and 192 after the trial started. Results All 46 patients completed the follow-up. From week 96 (after the clinical trial started) to week 192 (when the follow-up ended), another 3 patients achieved serum HBV DNA clearance, another 7 patients achieved serum HBeAg clearance, another 6 patients achieved HBeAg seroconversion, and another 3 patients achieved HBsAg seroconversion, while there was no change in the number of patients who achieved serum HBsAg clearance, with a total number of 37 (80.4%), 22 (47.8%), 21 (45.7%), 10(21.7%), and 10(21.7%), respectively. Among these patients, 9(19.6%) did not achieve HBV DNA clearance and they all had virologic breakthrough after drug withdrawal. Conclusion Further large-sample clinical trials are needed to investigate antiviral therapy for children with immune-tolerant chronic hepatitis B.