Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia

Abstract Background In the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, First Nations people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are infected with a unique sub-genotype, C4, which contains mutations linked to progressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This cohort study aimed to investigate disease progr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Genevieve E. Martin, Kelly Hosking, Kelly Banz, Catherine Gargan, Geoff Stewart, Belinda Greenwood-Smith, Penelope Ramsay, Jaclyn Tate-Baker, Christine Connors, Paula Binks, Melita McKinnon, Prashanti Manchikanti, George Garambaka Gurruwiwi, Nicole Allard, Ashleigh Qama, Jessica Michaels, Emily Vintour-Cesar, Robert Batey, Catherine Marshall, Peter Nihill, Tammy-Allyn Fernandes, Karen Fuller, Steven Y. C. Tong, David Boettiger, Benjamin Cowie, Joshua S. Davis, Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi, Jane Davies, on behalf of the Hep B PAST Partnership
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11213-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849769485735559168
author Genevieve E. Martin
Kelly Hosking
Kelly Banz
Catherine Gargan
Geoff Stewart
Belinda Greenwood-Smith
Penelope Ramsay
Jaclyn Tate-Baker
Christine Connors
Paula Binks
Melita McKinnon
Prashanti Manchikanti
George Garambaka Gurruwiwi
Nicole Allard
Ashleigh Qama
Jessica Michaels
Emily Vintour-Cesar
Robert Batey
Catherine Marshall
Peter Nihill
Tammy-Allyn Fernandes
Karen Fuller
Steven Y. C. Tong
David Boettiger
Benjamin Cowie
Joshua S. Davis
Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi
Jane Davies
on behalf of the Hep B PAST Partnership
author_facet Genevieve E. Martin
Kelly Hosking
Kelly Banz
Catherine Gargan
Geoff Stewart
Belinda Greenwood-Smith
Penelope Ramsay
Jaclyn Tate-Baker
Christine Connors
Paula Binks
Melita McKinnon
Prashanti Manchikanti
George Garambaka Gurruwiwi
Nicole Allard
Ashleigh Qama
Jessica Michaels
Emily Vintour-Cesar
Robert Batey
Catherine Marshall
Peter Nihill
Tammy-Allyn Fernandes
Karen Fuller
Steven Y. C. Tong
David Boettiger
Benjamin Cowie
Joshua S. Davis
Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi
Jane Davies
on behalf of the Hep B PAST Partnership
author_sort Genevieve E. Martin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, First Nations people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are infected with a unique sub-genotype, C4, which contains mutations linked to progressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This cohort study aimed to investigate disease progression in C4 sub-genotype infection and estimate how many untreated individuals may benefit from antiviral therapy with broadening treatment indications. Methods Included individuals were part of Hep B PAST, a co-designed program to improve the cascade of care for people living with CHB in the NT. Disease phase and cirrhotic status were determined algorithmically using clinical and laboratory data at two time points. Loss of HBV antigens was assessed longitudinally. Treatment need was assessed cross-sectionally in the cohort at study completion. Key outcomes were estimated rates of HBsAg/HBeAg loss in sub-genotype C4 infection and quantification of how many untreated individuals qualify for therapy under current Australian and expanded global treatment guidelines. Results HBsAg and HBeAg loss occurred at a rate of 1·04 and 8·06 events/100 person-years respectively (7342·6 and 545·6 years follow up). 783 people living with CHB were included (40% female, median age 48 years). Of these, 16% had cirrhosis (an additional 6% having FibroScan > 7 kPa, meaning 22% had cirrhosis or significant fibrosis) and 25% were prescribed antivirals. Only 6·7% of untreated individuals were treatment eligible under current guidelines. Using the 2024 World Health Organisation guidelines, this increased to 50% due mostly to fibrosis and population prevalence of diabetes. Conclusions Despite advanced liver disease in people living with CHB in the NT, rates of antigen loss in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection are similar to other genotypes. Further work is needed to understand drivers of cirrhosis and significant fibrosis in this population.
format Article
id doaj-art-1e66356b1c7645e69acd596c6509cac9
institution DOAJ
issn 1471-2334
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-1e66356b1c7645e69acd596c6509cac92025-08-20T03:03:24ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-07-0125111110.1186/s12879-025-11213-wDisease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, AustraliaGenevieve E. Martin0Kelly Hosking1Kelly Banz2Catherine Gargan3Geoff Stewart4Belinda Greenwood-Smith5Penelope Ramsay6Jaclyn Tate-Baker7Christine Connors8Paula Binks9Melita McKinnon10Prashanti Manchikanti11George Garambaka Gurruwiwi12Nicole Allard13Ashleigh Qama14Jessica Michaels15Emily Vintour-Cesar16Robert Batey17Catherine Marshall18Peter Nihill19Tammy-Allyn Fernandes20Karen Fuller21Steven Y. C. Tong22David Boettiger23Benjamin Cowie24Joshua S. Davis25Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi26Jane Davies27on behalf of the Hep B PAST PartnershipGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityMiwatj Health Aboriginal CorporationGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityWHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityWHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityAustralasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityNorthern Territory HealthGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityNorthern Territory HealthNorthern Territory HealthKatherine West Health BoardDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityMiwatj Health Aboriginal CorporationGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityAbstract Background In the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, First Nations people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are infected with a unique sub-genotype, C4, which contains mutations linked to progressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This cohort study aimed to investigate disease progression in C4 sub-genotype infection and estimate how many untreated individuals may benefit from antiviral therapy with broadening treatment indications. Methods Included individuals were part of Hep B PAST, a co-designed program to improve the cascade of care for people living with CHB in the NT. Disease phase and cirrhotic status were determined algorithmically using clinical and laboratory data at two time points. Loss of HBV antigens was assessed longitudinally. Treatment need was assessed cross-sectionally in the cohort at study completion. Key outcomes were estimated rates of HBsAg/HBeAg loss in sub-genotype C4 infection and quantification of how many untreated individuals qualify for therapy under current Australian and expanded global treatment guidelines. Results HBsAg and HBeAg loss occurred at a rate of 1·04 and 8·06 events/100 person-years respectively (7342·6 and 545·6 years follow up). 783 people living with CHB were included (40% female, median age 48 years). Of these, 16% had cirrhosis (an additional 6% having FibroScan > 7 kPa, meaning 22% had cirrhosis or significant fibrosis) and 25% were prescribed antivirals. Only 6·7% of untreated individuals were treatment eligible under current guidelines. Using the 2024 World Health Organisation guidelines, this increased to 50% due mostly to fibrosis and population prevalence of diabetes. Conclusions Despite advanced liver disease in people living with CHB in the NT, rates of antigen loss in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection are similar to other genotypes. Further work is needed to understand drivers of cirrhosis and significant fibrosis in this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11213-wChronic hepatitis BLiver cirrhosisFirst Nations healthHepatitis B virusViral genotype
spellingShingle Genevieve E. Martin
Kelly Hosking
Kelly Banz
Catherine Gargan
Geoff Stewart
Belinda Greenwood-Smith
Penelope Ramsay
Jaclyn Tate-Baker
Christine Connors
Paula Binks
Melita McKinnon
Prashanti Manchikanti
George Garambaka Gurruwiwi
Nicole Allard
Ashleigh Qama
Jessica Michaels
Emily Vintour-Cesar
Robert Batey
Catherine Marshall
Peter Nihill
Tammy-Allyn Fernandes
Karen Fuller
Steven Y. C. Tong
David Boettiger
Benjamin Cowie
Joshua S. Davis
Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi
Jane Davies
on behalf of the Hep B PAST Partnership
Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia
BMC Infectious Diseases
Chronic hepatitis B
Liver cirrhosis
First Nations health
Hepatitis B virus
Viral genotype
title Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia
title_full Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia
title_fullStr Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia
title_full_unstemmed Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia
title_short Disease progression & treatment need in sub-genotype C4 hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study in the Northern Territory, Australia
title_sort disease progression treatment need in sub genotype c4 hepatitis b infection a retrospective cohort study in the northern territory australia
topic Chronic hepatitis B
Liver cirrhosis
First Nations health
Hepatitis B virus
Viral genotype
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11213-w
work_keys_str_mv AT genevieveemartin diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT kellyhosking diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT kellybanz diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT catherinegargan diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT geoffstewart diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT belindagreenwoodsmith diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT peneloperamsay diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT jaclyntatebaker diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT christineconnors diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT paulabinks diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT melitamckinnon diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT prashantimanchikanti diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT georgegarambakagurruwiwi diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT nicoleallard diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT ashleighqama diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT jessicamichaels diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT emilyvintourcesar diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT robertbatey diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT catherinemarshall diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT peternihill diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT tammyallynfernandes diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT karenfuller diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT stevenyctong diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT davidboettiger diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT benjamincowie diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT joshuasdavis diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT sarahmariyalawuybukulatjpi diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT janedavies diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia
AT onbehalfofthehepbpastpartnership diseaseprogressiontreatmentneedinsubgenotypec4hepatitisbinfectionaretrospectivecohortstudyinthenorthernterritoryaustralia