Authors: Kyung Hee Kim Dong Hyun Sinn Won Kyoung Yun Hyun Chin Cho Yun Young Lee GeumYoun Gwak Moon Seok Choi Joon Hyeok Lee Kwang Cheol Koh Byung Chul Yoo Seung Woon Paik
Publish Date: 2011/02/12
Volume: 56, Issue: 8, Pages: 2432-2438
Abstract
Different definitions of virologic relapse VR are being used One way of defining VR is “reappearance of HBV DNA in the serum” while another definition is an “increase in HBV DNA level greater than 1 log in two determinations at least 4 weeks apart” The aim of this study was to see the effectiveness of these two definitionsHBV DNA reappeared in the serum ≥12 IU/ml of all 45 patients 100 An increase in HBV DNA level greater than 1 log in two determinations at least 4 weeks apart was identified in 20 of 25 patients 80 Biochemical flare and HBeAg reversion were observed in 18 40 and 14 31 patients respectively Peak offtherapy HBV DNA level was significantly associated with biochemical flare r = 0758 P 0001 and HBeAg reversion r = 0645 P 0001 Two patients with high initial offtherapy HBV DNA levels ≥40 log10 IU/ml were reassessed at 4 weeks and both experienced a biochemical flare and HBeAg reversion Two patients had an increase in HBV DNA level greater than 1 log at a very low level 1 log to 2 or 3 log but did not experience biochemical flare or HBeAg reversion during followupReappearance of HBV DNA was universal when sensitive HBV DNA assay was used Waiting 4 weeks to confirm VR may be harmful for patients with a high HBV DNA level and was ineffective to indicate retherapy for patients with increase in HBV DNA at a very low level There is a need for improved and standardized definitions of VR
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