Characteristics of hepatitis B core antibody level in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We aimed to analyze serum antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) level during different immunological phases in the natural history of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS:

Serum anti-HBc levels in the immune tolerant (IT), immune clearance (IC), low replicative (LR), and HBeAg negative hepatitis (ENH) phases from 634 treatment-naïve CHB patients were measured and compared between phases and with other serum markers.

RESULTS:

Median serum anti-HBc levels were different between the phases of CHB. Serum anti-HBc level was highest in the ENH phase and lowest in the IT phase. Serum anti-HBc level correlated only with ALT in the IC phase (r = 0.248, p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of anti-HBc at a cutoff value of 9.03 S/CO for differentiation of IT and IC phases was 0.689 (sensitivity 74.03%, specificity 60.23%). The AUC for differentiation of LR and ENH phases was 0.751 (sensitivity 68.32%, specificity 70.53%) at a cutoff value of 9.74 S/CO for anti-HBc.

CONCLUSIONS:

Serum anti-HBc levels were significantly different across different phases of CHB and were associated with hepatitis activities.

• Authors: Jian Wang, Xiaomin Yan, Yuxin Chen, Yong Liu, Li Wang, Bei Jia, Guiyang Wang, Yali Xiong, Peixin Song, Weihua Wu, Juan Xia, Sufang Lu, Zhaoping Zhang, Rui Huang, Chao Wu
• Journal: Discovery medicine (Discov Med) Vol. 26 Issue 143 Pg. 119-125 (10 2018) ISSN: 1944-7930 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30586535 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Biomarkers
• Hepatitis B Antibodies
• Hepatitis B Core Antigens

Topics

• Adult
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Hepatitis B Antibodies (blood)
• Hepatitis B Core Antigens (immunology)
• Hepatitis B virus (immunology)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sustained Virologic Response
• Viral Load