Baseline serum miR-125b levels predict virologic response to nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B

The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of baseline serum microRNA (miRNA)-125b for nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 66 patients with Be antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB received NAs therapy for 144 weeks. Serum miRNA-125b levels were measured at the baseline, while hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured throughout treatment. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of treatment response. The results indicated that baseline serum miR-125b (OR=4.377; P=0.006), HBsAg (OR=0.120; P=0.010), ALT >5× upper limit of normal (ULN; OR=11.726; P=0.018) and undetectable HBV DNA at week 24 (OR=7.828; P=0.021) were independent predictors of complete response (CR) at 144 weeks (CR is defined as HBV DNA <500 IU/ml and HBeAg seroconversion). The baseline serum miRNA-125b combined with baseline HBsAg level yielded an area under the receiver-operating curve of 0.852 in discriminating CR and non-CR at 144 week. The combination of baseline miRNA-125b ≥1.7 and ALT >5× ULN had a positive predictive value 80% for CR at 144 weeks. The combination of baseline miRNA-125b ≥1.7 and HbsAg ≤4.4 (log(10) IU/ml) had a negative predictive value of CR at 144 weeks of 100%. Together, these results suggest that baseline miRNA-125b is a reliable predictor of HBeAg seroconversion following NAs treatment. The present study may be used as a basis for the use of baseline miRNA-125b to optimize treatment prior to NAs therapy.