Entecavir Resistance-Associated Mutations in Chronic HBV Patients in Turkey (STREAM Study)

Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term viral infection that affects millions of people worldwide. Patients usually require lifelong antiviral treatment to control the virus and prevent liver damage. Some older antiviral medications, such as lamivudine, can lead to the development of viral resistance. This means the virus changes in a way that makes certain treatments less effective. Even though newer drugs like entecavir are stronger and more resistant to these changes, previous exposure to lamivudine may increase the risk of developing additional resistance mutations. By analyzing viral genetic material from blood samples using advanced sequencing technology, this research will help improve understanding of antiviral resistance patterns in patients with chronic hepatitis B in Turkey and may support better treatment decisions in the future.

Hypothesis 1. Entecavir resistance-associated mutations are detectable in both naïve and lamivudine-experienced patients. 2. Prevalence is higher in lamivudine-experienced patients compared to treatment-naïve patients. 3. Longer lamivudine exposure and higher HBV-DNA are associated with resistance. 4. Nanopore sequencing detects minor resistance variants not captured by conventional methods. Sample size: 700 estimated participants Pre-existing lamivudine-induced resistance mutations create a genetic background that facilitates the emergence of secondary entecavir resistance mutations, even in patients currently receiving tenofovir-based therapy. Investigators further hypothesize that peripheral blood-derived cccDNA sequencing can serve as a minimally invasive method to characterize transmitted and acquired resistance mutation profiles in chronic HBV infection. Clinical Significance Chronic hepatitis B management relies on long-term antiviral therapy, and resistance-associated mutations significantly influence treatment success and future therapeutic strategies. Although entecavir has a high genetic barrier, prior lamivudine exposure may predispose patients to secondary resistance mutations, potentially compromising antiviral efficacy. However, the prevalence and distribution of such mutations in the Turkish HBV population remain insufficiently characterized This study will provide: * National-level data on entecavir resistance-associated mutations * Comparative analysis between treatment-naïve and lamivudine-experienced patients * Insight into the clinical relevance of minor resistance variants detected by long-read sequencing Peripheral blood-derived cccDNA sequencing may represent a minimally invasive resistance monitoring tool. The findings may contribute to optimizing antiviral selection strategies, guiding individualized treatment decisions, and informing national hepatitis B management policies. This study will provide national-level data on entecavir resistance mutations in Turkey. It may support individualized antiviral selection and contribute to national HBV management strategies.