Efficacy of prolonged interferon-alpha treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients with HBeAb: comparison between 6 and 12 months of therapy.
We compared the response and the relapse rates of HBeAb-positive patients treated with interferon-alpha for 6 or 12 months. Thirty-eight HBeAb-positive patients which chronic hepatitis B were randomly allocated into two groups: Group I (19 patients receiving 10 MU of recombinant interferon-alpha 2b three times a week for 2 months, followed by 5 MU three times a week for 2 months and then 3 MU three times a week for 2 months); Group II (19 patients receiving 10 MU of recombinant interferon-alpha 2b three times a week for 2 months, followed by 5 MU three times a week for 2 months and then 3 MU three times a week for 8 months). At the end of treatment, alanine aminotransferase normalization was higher but not more significant in Group I than in II (53% vs 26%), while hepatitis B virus DNA clearance was similar in both groups (21% in Group I vs 26% in Group II). However, at 12 months of follow-up, biochemical relapses occurred only in Group I (60% vs 0% in Groups I and II, respectively). Five complete responders cleared hepatitis B surface antigen at that time. In conclusion, prolonged treatment of HBeAb patients is efficient in reducing the biochemical relapse.
Lopez-Alcorocho
J M
JM
Hepatology Unit, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Bartolome
J
J
Cotonat
T
T
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase