Characteristics of Adults in the Hepatitis B Research Network in North America Reflect Their Country of Origin and Hepatitis B Virus Genotype

Abstract

Background & Aims Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide; populations that migrate to the US and Canada might be disproportionately affected. The Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN) is a cooperative network of investigators from the United States and Canada, created to facilitate clinical, therapeutic, and translational research in adults and children with hepatitis B. We describe the structure of the network and baseline characteristics of adults with hepatitis B enrolled in the network. Methods The HBRN collected data on clinical characteristics of 1625 adults with chronic HBV infection who are not receiving antiviral therapy from 21 clinical centers in North America. Results Half of the subjects in the HBRN are male, and the mean age is 42 years; 72% are Asian, 15% are Black, and 11% are White, with 82% born outside of North America. The most common HBV genotype was B (39%); 745 of subjects were negative for the hepatitis B e antigen. The median serum level of HBV DNA when the study began was 3.6 log10 IU/mL; 68% of male subjects and 67% of female subjects had levels of alanine aminotransferase above the normal range. Conclusions The HBRN cohort will be used to address important clinical and therapeutic questions for North Americans infected with chronic HBV and to guide health policies on HBV prevention and management in North America.

Global Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection

“…Again, seropositivity rates were higher among foreign-born (1.6 %), in accordance with previous reports outlining seropositivity rates as high as 7.4 % in immigrants from highendemicity countries [21]. Data from the Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN), including 1625 HBV seropositive adults from 21 clinical centers in North America, suggested that half of the HBV-infected population are men (median age 42 years) and 82 % were born outside of North America, with genotype B the most common (39 %) [22].…”

Hepatitis B Virus–Specific and Global T-Cell Dysfunction in Chronic Hepatitis B

“…Baseline characteristics of the HBRN immunology study participants (shown in Supplementary Table S2) resembled those reported in the entire HBRN cohort 25 with median age of 42 years, equal male/female distribution (55%:45%), Asian predominance (83%) and high prevalence of genotypes B (47%) and C (30%), followed by genotypes A (9%) and D (6%). The CHB phenotype groups displayed expected differences in liver function parameters, HBV DNA titers (e.g.…”

“…The Adult Cohort Study protocol has been described elsewhere 25 . In brief, the Adult Cohort Study enrolled hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients that were 18 years or older without evidence for hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and not receiving antiviral therapy.…”

Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Living in North America: Results from the Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN)

“…The HBRN is a cooperative network of investigators from 21 geographically distinct clinical centers across the United States and one in Canada, a data coordinating center, virology testing laboratory and immunology center. The goal of the HBRN is to conduct clinical, scientific, epidemiological and therapeutic research in acute and chronic hepatitis B in both adult and pediatric patients who reside in North America (27). All protocols were approved by the Steering Committee and the Institutional Review Boards or Research Ethics Boards of the participating sites, and all participants provided written informed consent.…”