Long-term follow-up of interferon alfa treatment in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: The effect on hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and the development of cirrhosis-related complications.
The long-term effect of interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B infection is unknown. A total of 411 chronic hepatitis B patients (208 treated with IFN-alpha and 203 as control) were followed up for hepatitis B serology and the development of hepatoma and other cirrhosis-related complications. The hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate in the IFN-alpha-treated group, though significantly greater at 6 and 24 months, was comparable with the control group on subsequent follow-up, irrespective of pretreatment alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. HBeAg seroreversion rate was higher in the IFN-alpha group compared with the control group (21.1% vs. 2.2%; P =.001). Loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) occurred in 2.4% of the IFN-alpha-treated patients and 0.49% of the control patients (P = NS). Around 90% of the anti-HBe-positive patients in both groups were still hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA-positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Two patients suffered from hepatic reactivation during the course of treatment. Nine (4.3%) patients in the IFN-alpha group and 2 (1.0%) in the control group developed complications of cirrhosis and hepatoma (P =.062). In Chinese HBsAg carriers, IFN-alpha was of no long-term benefit in inducing HBeAg seroconversion or in the prevention of hepatoma and other cirrhosis-related complications.
Yuen
M F
MF
Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Hui
C K
CK
Cheng
C C
CC
Wu
C H
CH
Lai
Y P
YP
Lai
C L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase