Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41845172›Full record

ArticleHepatology international2026

A combined model of HBcrAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs predicts recurrence after functional cure of chronic hepatitis B.

Xiao Lin, Shan Ren, Chunyang Huang, Pengfei Yu, Yanhong Zheng, Bin Xu, Sujun Zheng, Xinyue Chen

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Hepatology international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Xiao Lin *Second Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4502-5343
Shan Ren *First Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
Chunyang HuangSecond Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
Pengfei YuFourth Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
Yanhong ZhengFirst Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
Bin XuSecond Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China. xubin1016@126.com.
Sujun ZhengFirst Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China. zhengsujun@ccmu.edu.cn.
Xinyue ChenFirst Department of Hepatology, Liver Disease Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen wai, Fengtai District, Beijing, China. chenxydoc@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9569-4540

Funding

Capital's Funds for Health Improvement and Research CFH 2024-2-2184Capital's Funds for Health Improvement and Research Z211100002921059Clinical Research and Scientific Research Project at Beijing Youan Hospital BJYAYY-YN2023-05Clinical Research and Scientific Research Project at Beijing Youan Hospital BJYAYY-YN2024-17Clinical Research Project, Beijing Gandan Xiangzhao Public Welfare Foundation iGandanF-1082025-LG035National Key Research and Development Program of Ministry of Science and Technology 2023YFC2308103National Key Research and Development Program of Ministry of Science and Technology 2023YFC2308105
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveDespite achieving functional cure with pegylated interferon-based therapy, a significant proportion of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients experience recurrence, even in the presence of high anti-HBs titers. Robust predictors to identify these at-risk individuals are lacking. We aimed to develop and validate a novel model integrating viral (HBcrAg) and host immune (anti-HBc, anti-HBs) biomarkers for personalized recurrence prediction.

methodsIn this ambispective cohort, 84 CHB patients with functional cure (28 recurrence [R], 56 non-recurrence [NR]) were rigorously selected via 1:2 propensity score matching and followed for ≥ 96 weeks. Serum levels of HBcrAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs at end-of-treatment (EOT) were quantified. Independent predictors were identified by logistic regression, and diagnostic performance was evaluated by ROC analysis.

resultsAt EOT, the R group had significantly higher HBcrAg levels than the NR group (3.30 ± 1.13 vs. 2.26 ± 1.04 log

conclusionThe HBcrAg/anti-HBc axis is a key determinant of relapse risk after functional cure. A combined biomarker model provides superior risk stratification, accurately identifying high-risk patients missed by anti-HBs alone, and paves the way for individualized post-treatment surveillance strategies.

Indexed as

Hepatitis B AntibodiesHepatitis B, ChronicHepatitis B Core AntigensHepatitis B Surface AntigensAdultAntiviral AgentsBiomarkersFemaleHepatitis B virusHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceROC CurveAntiviral AgentsBiomarkersHepatitis B AntibodiesHepatitis B Core AntigensHepatitis B Surface AntigensBiomarkersChronic hepatitis BFunctional cureHepatitis B core antibodyHepatitis B core-related antigenHepatitis B surface antibodyPegylated interferonPredictive modelRisk stratificationViral relapse

Identifiers

PMID41845172

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.