Study Calls for Revised Resolution Time Frame for Acute HBV

Contrary to previous evidence that immune system can likely clear hepatitis B from the body within 6 months, a new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that only 36% of the patients infected with acute hepatitis B virus (aHBV) cleared hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) within the time frame.

In light of these findings, investigators concluded that “the definition of resolution in acute hepatitis B may need to be modified.”

The prospective cohort study evaluated the demographics, clinical features, and 12-month outcomes between 60 aHBV patients and 1534 chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) untreated controls from data between years 2011 and 2018.

Patients with aHBV were more often male (72% vs 51%), single (72% vs 30%), non-Hispanic Whites or Blacks (75% vs 24%), genotype A2 (65% vs 9%), sexually exposed (75% vs 16%), and had a higher rate of injection drug use (10% vs 2%). Compared to cHBV, the aHBV cohort also had higher serum aminotransferase and bilirubin levels. “The median time to HBsAg clearance was 27 weeks and to anti-HBs appearance, 41 weeks,” the report read.

Based on the findings, the investigators recommended a modified strategy for adult vaccination in North America, in addition to modifying the resolution time frame for aHBV.

Reference:
Sterling R, Wahed A, Cloherty G, Hoofnagle J and Lee W. Acute hepatitis B virus infection in North American adults. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. Published Online: September 15, 2022. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2022.09.004