Effects of nucleos(t)ide analogs on hepatitis B surface antigen reduction with interferon-lambda 3 induction in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Abstract

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 (CHB) patients. A total of 91 patients [51 treated with nucleoside analog entecavir hydrate (ETV) and 40 treated with nucleotide analog adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)] with clinically evident CHB (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 5years post-therapy. The change (mean±standard deviation) in serum HBsAg levels from baseline to year five 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 1year, -0.5 log HBsAg decline at 3years, and -0.8 log HBsAg decline at 5years after NAs treatment on multivariate analysis. Nucleotide analog (ADV/TDF) treatment reduced HBsAg levels greater compared with nucleoside analog (ETV) in parallel with IFN-λ3 induction.