Hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA status can reveal the long-term prognoses of chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues.

Abstract

We examined whether the hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) status after nucleos(t)ide (NA) treatment can predict the long-time prognoses of chronic hepatitis B patients. Patients with chronic hepatitis B (98) who were treatment-naïve and had begun a 7-year NA therapy regimen were enrolled in this study. Biochemical indicators and serological markers of HBV infection were performed during therapy. HBV pgRNA was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR with specific primers. During treatment, HBV DNA undetectable rates increased. The aminotransferase (ALT) normalization (ALT<50IU/L) and HBeAg-negative rates also increased. After 48weeks' NA treatment, 48.28% (28/58) of HBV DNA undetectable patients still had HBV pgRNA-positive. After 7years of treatment, more HBV pgRNA-negative patients (n=35) achieved HBeAg clearance than the patients who were HBV pgRNA-positive (n=63) (19/23 vs 19/56, P<.00). HBV pgRNA-positive patients also had an increased risk of failing to achieve HBeAg clearance (OR=9.25, 95% CI: 2.75-31.08). The median time to HBeAg clearance in the HBV pgRNA-positive patients was longer than that of the HBV pgRNA-negative patients (152weeks vs 72weeks). The HBV pgRNA-positive patients also required more time to achieve HBV DNA undetectable (124weeks, 95% CI: 103.33-144.67 vs 48weeks, 95% CI: 34.80-61.20). The HBV pgRNA status after NA treatment can predict the long-term prognoses of patients with chronic HBV. Patients who remain HBV pgRNA-positive after 48weeks of NA treatment have an increased risk of not achieving HBeAg clearance, need more time to achieve HBeAg clearance and undetectable HBV DNA load.