Lab results with entecavir treatment

What do my lab results mean?
1

Hi all, diagnosed with chronic hep B about 35 years ago and virus had a low viral load during that time. Then had a spike in dna load when it was detected I had an autoimmune disease and required methotrexate. Have been on entecavir treatment for past 4-5 years. I have put my autoimmune into remission and been off methotrexate for 9 months.

This my current lab results:

Hep B e antigen = negative

Hep B e antibody = positive

Hep B virus load DNA = undetected by PCR

ALT = 14

Ultrasound normal (always has been)

I have been given the OK to stop my entecavir treatment, but require regular blood work checks.

What do the results actually mean? Have I actually cleared the virus? Or the treatment has done its job and now a wait & see if my immune system keeps it undetectable?

2

Hello @Basa123

The official definition of functional cure is to have undetectable surface antigen and HBV DNA for at least 6 months. It’s not possible to say whether or not you’ve cleared the virus without knowing what your surface antigen is. Did you happen to have that tested?

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3

No I didn’t. Maybe I’ll ask my doctor in two months when I have my next review of my blood work. thank you

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4

I agree with @et5656’s assessment and that you should not be taken off of treatment without knowing your HBsAg status first.

Thomas