Influencing factors for low-level viremia in patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and its association with the progression of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis

Bibi XUAN; Yonghong XU; Zhongcai DU; Yu LIU; Yuling YANG; Cheng BIAN

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2022.10.011

Volume 38 Issue 10

Oct. 2022

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Article Navigation > Journal of Clinical Hepatology > 2022 > 38(10): 2252-2259

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Influencing factors for low-level viremia in patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and its association with the progression of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2022.10.011

Bibi XUAN¹,
Yonghong XU^2a,
Zhongcai DU^2b,
Yu LIU^2c,
Yuling YANG^2b,
Cheng BIAN^{2b
,
,
,}

1.
Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, Shandong 266021, China
2a.
Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China
3b.
Department of Infectious Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China
4c.
Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China

Research funding:

National Natural Science Foundation of China (RZ1900014929)

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Corresponding author: BIAN Cheng, jinbeibei@126.com(ORCID: 0000-0001-6719-5664)
Received Date: 2022-02-27
Accepted Date: 2022-03-30
Published Date: 2022-10-20

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for low-level viremia (LLV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or hepatitis B liver cirrhosis (LC) receiving antiviral therapy and the association of LLV with the progression of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. Methods A total of 417 patients with CHB or LC who attended the outpatient service of liver diseases in The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021 were enrolled, and all patients received oral administration of nucleos(t)ide analogues as antiviral therapy for ≥1 year and had an HBV DNA level of < 2000 IU/mL. According to the HBV DNA level, the patients were divided into LLV group (10 IU/mL ≤HBV DNA < 2000 IU/mL) and complete virologic response (CVR) group (HBV DNA < 10 IU/mL). The two groups were compared in terms of general data, virology, biochemistry, and liver fibrosis markers before and after antiviral therapy to investigate the influencing factors for LLV. Meanwhile, the degree of changes in liver inflammation and liver fibrosis markers after antiviral therapy was compared between the two groups to analyze the association of LLV with the progression of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. The independent samples t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Kendall's tau-b method was used for correlation analysis, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for LLV. Results Among the 417 patients with CHB or LC, 173 developed LLV, and the constituent ratio of LLV was 41.5%; the patients with 10 IU/mL≤HBV DNA < 1000 IU/mL accounted for 94.8%. The logistic regression analysis showed that positive HBeAg (odds ratio [OR]=3.009, 95%CI: 1.346-6.729, P=0.007), a family history of LC or HCC (OR=2.929, 95%CI: 1.344-6.383, P=0.007), and HBV DNA > 1.0×10⁸ IU/mL (OR=10.790, 95%CI: 1.265-92.007, P=0.030) before antiviral therapy were risk factors for the development of LLV, while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 40 U/L (OR=0.355, 95%CI: 0.171-0.737, P=0.005) was a protective factor against LLV; positive HBeAg after antiviral therapy (OR=4.394, 95%CI: 1.962-9.841, P < 0.001) was still a risk factor for LLV, and course of antiviral therapy ≥2 years and < 3 years (OR=0.175, 95%CI: 0.046-0.674, P=0.010) and course of antiviral therapy ≥3 years (OR=0.170, 95%CI: 0.048-0.600, P=0.006) were protective factors against LLV. Compared with the LLV group, the CVR group had significantly greater changes in AST, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) (ΔAST, ΔAFP, ΔAPRI, and ΔFIB-4, respectively) (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that ΔAST (τ=-0.192, P= < 0.001), ΔAFP (τ=-0.192, P < 0.001), ΔAPRI (τ=-0.210, P=0.002), and ΔFIB-4 (τ=-0.202, P=0.003) were all negatively correlated with LLV. Conclusion A highly sensitive HBV DNA detection method helps with the early diagnosis of LLV. Strong antiviral therapy should be given to patients with a family history of LC or HCC, a high HBV DNA level, positive HBeAg, or a low AST level, and HBV DNA, AST, and HBeAg should be closely monitored to identify LLV as early as possible.
- Hepatitis B, Chronic,
- Liver Cirrhosis,
- Low-Level Viremia,
- Root Cause Analysis

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References

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Influencing factors for low-level viremia in patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and its association with the progression of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2022.10.011