Circulating HBV RNA and HBsAg seroconversion in patients with chronic HBV infection: a long-term follow-up study starting from childhood in Taiwan

08 Jul 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

Background HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion indicates the clearance of HBV in patients with chronic HBV infection. Objective We aimed to investigate the predictive value of HBV RNA and HBV mutants on HBsAg seroconversion in patients with chronic HBV infection from childhood to adulthood.
Design We recruited 700 children (409 males and 291 females) with initially hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic HBV infection. With the mean initial visit age of 7.28 years (95% CI 7.03 to 7.62 years), they were followed for 15 912 person-years at our institution.
Serum samples collected after HBeAg seroconversion in HBeAg seroconverters were analysed for circulating HBV RNA, HBsAg, HBV core-related antigen, HBV DNA levels and the percentage of HBV mutants. Results 23 subjects (3.29%) experienced HBsAg seroconversion following antiviral therapy, while another 27 (3.86%) achieved spontaneous HBsAg seroconversion in this cohort.
The annual probability of HBsAg seroconversion is 0.32% (95% CI 0.30% to 0.33%) per person-year across the entire cohort.

Clinical Editorial

Gut (BMJ) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 08 Jul 2026.

The item focuses on Circulating HBV RNA and HBsAg seroconversion in patients with chronic HBV infection: a long-term follow-up study starting from childhood in Taiwan.

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