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. 2025 Dec;57(1):2470957.
doi: 10.1080/07853890.2025.2470957. Epub 2025 Feb 24.

24-month outcomes after switching to Dolutegravir/Lamivudine in people living with HIV and HBcAb positivity at the Beijing Ditan Hospital in China

Jiantao Fu  1 , Ruojia Biao  1   2 , Ying Liu  1 , Jing Chen  3 , Hongxin Zhao  1
Affiliations

24-month outcomes after switching to Dolutegravir/Lamivudine in people living with HIV and HBcAb positivity at the Beijing Ditan Hospital in China

Jiantao Fu et al. Ann Med. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) is a recommended therapy regimen for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative people living with HIV (PLWH) who have achieved HIV virological suppression or are treatment-naïve. However, this may overlook the impact of occult hepatitis B infection on HIV suppression, which mainly present as hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) positive but HBsAg negative. We aim to assess the effect of HBcAb positivity on HIV suppression among PLWH who had switched to DTG/3TC.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted including 127 HBcAb-positive and 474 HBcAb-negative PLWH (all were HBsAg negative) who had switched to DTG/3TC at the Beijing Ditan Hospital in China. HIV-RNA suppression was compared pre-switch (not baseline), at switch, and at 12&24 months post-switch, across three categories: (1) target not detected (TND); (2) HIV RNA < 40 cp/mL; (3) blip. Virological suppression included TND and HIV RNA < 40 cp/mL. Epidemiological (gender, age) and clinical data (CD4 count, HIV viral load, etc.) were extracted from the hospital information system. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result: HBcAb-positive PLWH were older at DTG/3TC switch (median age: 41 vs. 36 years old, p < 0.001) and had lower nadir CD4 counts (median nadir CD4 counts: 255 vs. 295, p = 0.011). No difference in TND and HIV RNA < 40 cp/mL was present in the two groups at the switch (HBcAb-positive and -negative: 86.6% vs. 88.8%, 12.6% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.789). Similar HBcAb-positive compared with -negative PLWH resulted in TND at 12&24 months post-switch: 91.4% vs. 91% (p = 0.522) and 88.4% vs. 92.7% (p = 0.249), respectively. Consistent result was observed in HIV RNA < 40 cp/mL.

Conclusion: In the 24-month follow-up after switching to DTG/3TC, HBcAb positivity was not significantly associated with HIV virological suppression.

Keywords: DTG/3TC; HBcAb positivity; HIV; HIV virological suppression; outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflict of interest to declare regarding this study for all author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic diagram of the study. This figure was created using figdraw with authorization, a online scientific illustration tool.
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