[Influences of the genotypes of HBV and HBeAg regarding their response to PEG-IFN in chronic hepatitis B patients].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of genotypes of HBV and HBeAg on the response to PEG-interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.


METHODS
PCR-RFLP and S gene sequencing were conducted in 42 CHB patients.


RESULTS
The sustained response (SR) rates were 66.7% in genotype B and 27.3% in genotype C group. The P value was 0.039 by the Pearson Chi-square test, while it was 0.06 by the Fisher's exact test. The results suggested a trend that patients with genotype B HBV compared to genotype C had better SR to PEG-IFN therapy, although the difference was not significant. Results also showed that SR rate in patients with HBeAg-negative CHB (7/8 87.5%) was significantly higher than that in HBe+ CHB patients (8/21 38.1%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that HBV genotype and HBeAg, especially the later, are main factors for predicting PEG-IFN therapy response in CHB patients.
Fan
He-bin
HB
Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Nanfang Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Guo
Ya-bing
YB
Luo
Kang-xian
KX
Hou
Jin-lin
JL
Wang
Zhan-hui
ZH
Zhang
Ming-xia
MX
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a