Hepatitis B e Antigen Seroconversion: A Critical Event in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Background Replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the primary driver of disease progression and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but other factors, such as hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, also influence disease course. The importance of HBeAg seroconversion is u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Digestive diseases and sciences 2010-10, Vol.55 (10), p.2727-2734
Main Authors: Liaw, Yun-Fan, Lau, George K. K, Kao, Jia-Horng, Gane, Edward
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigens
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Biological response modifiers
Care and treatment
Conferences, meetings and seminars
Development and progression
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gastroenterology
Health aspects
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood
Hepatitis B e Antigens - immunology
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B virus - growth & development
Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy
Hepatitis B, Chronic - immunology
Hepatology
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Interferon
Medical colleges
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Oncology
Review
Telbivudine
Transplant Surgery
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Viral diseases
Viral hepatitis
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Summary:Background Replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the primary driver of disease progression and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but other factors, such as hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, also influence disease course. The importance of HBeAg seroconversion is underscored by current CHB treatment guidelines that recommend limiting the duration of antiviral therapy in HBeAg-positive patients who achieve seroconversion. Aims A 2-day meeting of leading hepatologists with extensive experience managing patients with CHB in the Asia-Pacific region was held with the overall goals of reviewing and evaluating (1) available data on the relationship between HBeAg seroconversion and clinical outcomes for patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, and (2) the ways in which seroconversion should influence patient management. Conclusions It was agreed that HBeAg seroconversion is an important serologic end point for patients with CHB and that achieving this goal should be an important consideration in treatment selection. Patients with HBeAg-positive CHB should consider pegylated interferon if they are aged
ISSN:0163-2116
1573-2568
DOI:10.1007/s10620-010-1179-4