Expert Opinion
A possible mechanism for low-level viremia occurrence in nucleos(t)ide analog-treated chronic hepatitis B patients
Wang Leijie, Gu Zhiqiang, Xu Zimeng, Chen Xiangmei, Lu Fengming
Published 2021-12-20
Cite as Chin J Hepatol, 2021, 29(12): 1151-1155. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20211124-00578
Abstract
The first-line nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) based antiviral drugs can effectively inhibit HBV replication and slow down the progression of chronic hepatitis B. However, about 20% of patients receiving standard NAs antiviral therapy will still develop low-level viremia (LLV). Therefore, understanding the occurrence mechanism of LLV will help to optimize antiviral treatment regimens and improve the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B. This article systematically summarizes the possible mechanisms of LLV occurrence, and the important factor of NAs failure. Taking into account the unique limitations of NAs competitive inhibition of virus replication, weakening host's immune response is not enough to directly eliminate infected hepatocytes. This makes it difficult to achieve a complete virological response in some patients with the active compensatory proliferation of residual infected hepatocytes and the accompanying effective removal or dilution of covalent, closed, circular DNA (cccDNA) pools. Therefore, it is speculated that activating host immunity can eliminate infected liver cells and may be more conducive to address LLV.
Key words:
Chronic hepatitis B; Nucleos(t)ide analogues; Low level viremia
Contributor Information
Wang Leijie
Department of Microbiology &
Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Gu Zhiqiang
Department of Microbiology &
Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Xu Zimeng
Precision Medicine Center of Zhengzhou University, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou 450052, China
Chen Xiangmei
Department of Microbiology &
Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Lu Fengming
Department of Microbiology &
Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Hepatology Institute, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China