HBsAg Loss among a Cohort of Nigerians with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus is an infection that has lasted for 6 months or more without a complete resolution. Nigeria has a hyper-endemic CHB infection rate. There are few or no reports of HBsAg loss among Nigerians on treatment for CHB. We therefore report seven cases of CHB that cleared HBsAg with treatment from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching hospital Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Case records of patients that cleared HBsAg during follow-up treatment in the gastrointestinal clinic were reviewed and information on biodata, prescribed medication, duration of treatment, and hepatitis B viral quantity among others were extracted and presented in a table and as percentages.
Results: Seven patients had lost HBsAg among our treated cases; they were five males and two females. Duration of treatment ranged from 6 months to about 4 years. All were HBeAg negative. Serum HBV-DNA ranged from 22 to 3.2 x 106 IU/mL at the start and was not detectable at the end of treatment. Anti-HBs were detectable in three cases. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) reduced significantly in five cases. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) was prescribed in four cases, one had PEGylated interferon (PegIFN), and two other cases switched between TDF and PegIFN.
Conclusion: Antivirals for CHB are effective and HBsAg loss may follow undetectable viral suppression. Antivirals are therefore beneficial among Nigerians who are infected with CHB.