Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01711-x (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
First-line oral antiviral therapies showed similar efficacies in suppression
of serum HBcrAg in chronic hepatitis B patients
Version: 
2 
Date: 
04 Dec 2020
Reviewer's report:
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1. As HBCrAg included HBeAg, HBCAg and truncated 22 KD protein, is there
any difference for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of this test in Ag negative
versus Ag positive?
2. 2. Most of the patient in Tenofovir groups are HBeAg positive and most of the
patients in the ETV group are HBeAg positive, are you sure that they are equal
in the response to therapies?
3. Because degree of fibrosis should be considered as an important factor in the
decision to start therapy and response rate, it would have been better if you
performed at least Fibroscan in all the patients before treatment and at the end of
treatment
4. What are the additional benefits of adding HBCrAg to regular tests like
HBVDNA level or HBSAg level?
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
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from apparent manipulation?
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