Anti-HBs Immune Complex Levels: A Novel Marker of Hepatitis Flare Following Nucleos(t)ide Analog Withdrawal in HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B

SJ Hume; K Visvanathan; K Cheng; K Jackson; S Vogrin; SAL Hall; GS Burns; PV Desmond; D Ratnam; MT Levy; R Sawhney; SI Strasser; MC Ngu; M Sinclair; C Meredith; G Matthews; Z Valaydon; D Wong; M Littlejohn; JA Holmes; PA Revill; AJ Thompson; N Warner

Journal article

Anti-HBs Immune Complex Levels: A Novel Marker of Hepatitis Flare Following Nucleos(t)ide Analog Withdrawal in HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B

SJ Hume, K Visvanathan, K Cheng, K Jackson, S Vogrin, SAL Hall, GS Burns, PV Desmond, D Ratnam, MT Levy, R Sawhney, SI Strasser, MC Ngu, M Sinclair, C Meredith, G Matthews, Z Valaydon, D Wong, M Littlejohn, JA Holmes Show all

Journal of Infectious Diseases | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaf569

Abstract

Background and Aims Humoral immunity is thought to play a key role in the immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Peaks in anti-HBs immune complexes (HBsAg-ICs) have been associated with subsequent HBsAg seroclearance. Discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy can promote HBsAg seroclearance but also carries a risk of hepatitis flare. We evaluated the relationship between serum HBsAg-IC levels and hepatitis flare following NA cessation in HBeAg-negative CHB. Methods In a multicentre prospective cohort of noncirrhotic HBeAg-negative CHB patients undergoing NA discontinuation, we conducted a nested case-control analysis (n = 38). Stored serum samples were tested for HBsAg-I..

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