title: Long-term outcome of hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients with compensated cirrhosis treated with interferon alfa. European Concerted Action on Viral Hepatitis (EUROHEP).
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) treatment-associated virological and biochemical remission improves survival in a cohort of 90 white patients with compensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B (Child A) followed for a mean period of 7 years. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven cirrhosis, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positivity, abnormal serum aminotransferase levels, exclusion of hepatitis delta virus, and absence of complications of cirrhosis. Of the 40 IFN-treated patients, 27 (67%) showed sustained HBeAg loss with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization. Of the 50 untreated patients, 30 (60%) cleared HBeAg, but only 21 (42%) normalized ALT after HBeAg loss. Compared with the untreated patients, IFN-treated patients had similar cumulative rates of HBeAg clearance (P = .48), but higher rates of ALT normalization (P = .016) and of HBsAg loss (P = .028). During follow-up, liver-related death occurred in 8 treated patients, caused by liver failure in 5 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 3; all 8 had continued to be HBeAg-positive with elevated ALT. None of the treated patients undergoing remission developed liver-related complications. At univariate analysis, life expectancy was longer in treated patients showing sustained remission than in those who did not (5-year survival: 100% vs. 81%; P = .048). Fourteen untreated patients died (from liver failure in 10 and HCC in 4); all but 3 had continued to be HBeAg-positive with elevated ALT. Cox's model identified age and ALT normalization as the only significant predictors of survival. In conclusion, in patients with HBeAg-positive compensated cirrhosis, virological and biochemical remission following IFN therapy is associated with improved survival.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Cattedra Medicina Interna, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fattovich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giustina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Realdi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corrocher
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Schalm
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase