biostudies-literatureUnknown13Guo Y<h4>Background</h4>Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss, namely, the functional cure, can be achieved through the pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-based therapy. However, it is an unignorable fact that a small proportion of patients who achieved functional cure develop HBsAg reversion (HRV) and the related factors are not well described.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 112 patients who achieved PEG-IFN-induced HBsAg loss were recruited. HBV biomarkers and biochemical parameters were examined dynamically. HBV RNA levels were assessed in the cross-sectional analysis. The primary endpoint was HRV, defined as the reappearance of HBsAg after PEG-IFN discontinuation.<h4>Results</h4>HRV occurred in 17 patients during the follow-up period. Univariable analysis indicated that hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, different levels of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) at the end of PEG-IFN treatment (EOT) were significantly associated with the incidence of HRV through using the log-rank test. Additionally, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the anti-HBs was superior to anti-HBc in predictive power for the incidence of HRV during the follow-up period. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis found that anti-HBs ≥1.3 log₁₀IU/L (hazard ratio (HR), 0.148; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.044-0.502) and HBeAg negativity (HR, 0.183; 95% CI, 0.052-0.639) at EOT were independently associated with lower incidence of HRV. Cross-sectional analysis indicated that the HBV RNA levels were significantly correlated with the HBsAg levels in patients with HRV (r=0.86, p=0.003).<h4>Conclusions</h4>EOT HBeAg negativity and anti-HBs ≥1.3 log₁₀IU/L identify the low risk of HRV after PEG-IFN discontinuation.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology1120300https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9998526biostudies-literatureEnd-of-treatment anti-HBs levels and HBeAg status identify durability of HBsAg loss after PEG-IFN discontinuation.PMC9998526Guo YHe JZhang JLi FMao RLin YZhu HYang FShen ZZhang YJin CHan JChen SfalseEnd-of-treatment anti-HBs levels and HBeAg status identify durability of HBsAg loss after PEG-IFN discontinuation.<h4>Background</h4>Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss, namely, the functional cure, can be achieved through the pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-based therapy. However, it is an unignorable fact that a small proportion of patients who achieved functional cure develop HBsAg reversion (HRV) and the related factors are not well described.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 112 patients who achieved PEG-IFN-induced HBsAg loss were recruited. HBV biomarkers and biochemical parameters were examined dynamically. HBV RNA levels were assessed in the cross-sectional analysis. The primary endpoint was HRV, defined as the reappearance of HBsAg after PEG-IFN discontinuation.<h4>Results</h4>HRV occurred in 17 patients during the follow-up period. Univariable analysis indicated that hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, different levels of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) at the end of PEG-IFN treatment (EOT) were significantly associated with the incidence of HRV through using the log-rank test. Additionally, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the anti-HBs was superior to anti-HBc in predictive power for the incidence of HRV during the follow-up period. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis found that anti-HBs ≥1.3 log₁₀IU/L (hazard ratio (HR), 0.148; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.044-0.502) and HBeAg negativity (HR, 0.183; 95% CI, 0.052-0.639) at EOT were independently associated with lower incidence of HRV. Cross-sectional analysis indicated that the HBV RNA levels were significantly correlated with the HBsAg levels in patients with HRV (r=0.86, p=0.003).<h4>Conclusions</h4>EOT HBeAg negativity and anti-HBs ≥1.3 log₁₀IU/L identify the low risk of HRV after PEG-IFN discontinuation.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-04T18:51:10.481Z2025-04-04T18:51:10.481ZS-EPMC99985263690972610.3389/fcimb.2023.1120300