HBcrAg and pg RNA and the therapeutic effect in HBeAg-positive patients receiving anti-viral therapy, baseline serum HBV-RNA is a powerful predictor of response.

We used HBV core antigen (HbcrAg), pre-genomic RNA (pg RNA) and other biomarkers to evaluate the therapeutic effect in HBV infected patients receiving anti-viral therapy. 127HBeAg-positive patients were enrolled: 35 patients received nucleotide therapy, 14 patients received interferon and 78 patients received combination therapy with both. HBcrAg, pg RNA and other biomarkers were detected at different time points, we defined the decreased titre of HBcrAg and HBeAg from baseline to 6 and baseline to 12 months as ∆HBcrAg and ∆HBeAg, which were used to predict HBeAg seroconversion. Furthermore, we used the time-dependent receiver operator curve of different markers to analyse HBeAg seroconversion. For HBeAg seroconversion: at 6 months, 0.75 log ₁₀ U/mL of ∆HBcrAg and 1.47 log ₁₀ PEI U/mL of ∆HBeAg showed maximum predictive value in receiver operator curve analysis (Youden's index values for area under the curve of 0.687 and 0.646, respectively). At 12 months, 2.05 log ₁₀ U/mL of ∆HBcrAg and 1.92 log ₁₀ PEI U/mL of ∆HBeAg showed improved prediction (maximum Youden's index values, with areas under the curve of 0.688 and 0.698, respectively).pg RNA was a better predictor of outcome due and the concentrations of 6.20 log ₁₀ I U/mL of pg RNA and 8.0 log ₁₀ U/mL of HBcrAg were cut-off values for response in a Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Our results may be used to identify the pg RNA concentration in patients at baseline and ∆HBcrAg during therapy who are likely to achieve HBeAg seroconversion according to the cut-off value at different time points, thus helping to evaluate the therapeutic effect.
(© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)