Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C infection who
are positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) should not delay
antiviral treatment in the hope of seroconversion, Korean researchers
recommend.
Over 6 months, just one (1.1%) of 90 patients, all of whom had HBV DNA
levels above 20,000 IU/mL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels more
than twice the upper limit of normal, showed both spontaneous loss of
HBeAg and detection of anti-HBe, reports the team from Jeju National
University School of Medicine.
The study protocol recommended antiviral treatment for all patients
showing biochemical deterioration during follow-up; 18.9% of patients
had entecavir or tenofovir treatment initiated on the development of
acute exacerbations, aggravation of jaundice or both.
Read more...Labels: delaying treatment, e antigen, Genotype C