Hepatitis B virus genotype is an independent prognostic factor of telbivudine and tenofovir treatment in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive pregnant women

Baofang Zhang; Lei Yu; Mingliang Cheng; Quan Zhang; Jun Wu; Jing Yang; Qin Liu; Shuang Lu; Xueke Zhao; KaiSheng Deng; Yongmei Liu; Jun Wang; Peiling Zhao

doi:10.1002/fsn3.2619

Hepatitis B virus genotype is an independent prognostic factor of telbivudine and tenofovir treatment in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive pregnant women

Food Sci Nutr. 2021 Nov 29;10(1):3-11. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.2619. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Authors

Baofang Zhang¹, Lei Yu², Mingliang Cheng¹, Quan Zhang¹, Jun Wu¹, Jing Yang¹, Qin Liu¹, Shuang Lu¹, Xueke Zhao¹, KaiSheng Deng¹, Yongmei Liu³, Jun Wang⁴, Peiling Zhao³

Affiliations

¹ The Affliated Hospital Guizhou Medical University Guiyang, Guizhou China.
² Prenatal Diagnosis Center Guizhou Medical University Guiyang, Guizhou China.
³ Laboratory Guizhou Medical University Guiyang, Guizhou China.
⁴ Clinical Research Center Guizhou Medical University Guiyang, Guizhou China.

Abstract

To investigate whether HBV genotype influences the effect of tenofovir and telbivudine on HBV DNA and RNA levels in HBsAg-positive pregnant women. This was a retrospective study of 74 HBsAg-positive pregnant women in Guizhou of China. All patients were treated with telbivudine or tenofovir from 12 weeks of pregnancy and HBV infection to the date of delivery. Blood samples were collected at 12-24, 28-32, and 36-40 weeks of pregnancy for the measurement of genotype, HBsAg, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA, HBV RNA, and liver function, including alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, total bile acids, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase. All women with HBsAg were followed up. The HBV genotype was B in 64.9% and C in 35.1%. There were 37 patients of telbivudine and tenofovir group respectively. The telbivudine and tenofovir groups showed no differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, including liver function tests, HBsAg, HBeAg, log₁₀(HBV DNA), and log₁₀(HBV RNA). Compared with baseline (12-24 weeks), telbivudine group showed a significant increase in ALP and significant reductions in HBsAg, HBeAg, log₁₀(HBV DNA), and log₁₀(HBV RNA) at 36-40 weeks (p < .05). Tenofovir group exhibited a significant increase in ALP and significant reductions in HBeAg, log₁₀(HBV DNA), and log₁₀(HBV RNA) at 36-40 weeks, compared with baseline (p < .05). HBV genotype (B vs. C) was independently associated with HBV DNA change after therapy (p = .005). In telbivudine group, log₁₀ (HBV DNA) increased from 3.38 (2.00-7.30) to 7.43 (4.68-8.70). In tenofovir group, log₁₀ (HBV DNA) decreased from 7.52 (3.32-8.70) to 2.98 (2.00-5.01). HBV genotype was independently associated with HBV DNA change response to telbivudine or tenofovir in pregnant women with hepatitis B. These findings might be helpful for risk assessment regarding vertical transmission of HBV in HBeAg-positive mothers treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues.

Keywords: genotype; hepatitis B virus; pregnancy; telbivudine; tenofovir.