Responsiveness to interferon alpha in chronic hepatitis B by presumed vertical transmission.
This study was to evaluate responsiveness to IFN-alpha and investigate the benefits of sustained response (SR) in patients who were presumed as being vertically transmitted in Korea. A total of 46 patients of presumed vertical transmission with biopsy-proven HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection were treated with IFN-alpha and followed. We tried to find the factors associated with SR and compared the cumulative rate of HCC and survival between SR group and non-sustained/non-responder (NSR) group. HBeAg loss was acquired in 35% (16/46) within a year but SR was observed in 22% (10/46). Age <35 years and ALT levels >7xULN were significant favorable factors for SR (OR 0.56, 0.49, 95%CI 0.38-0.82, 0.29-0.81, respectively) (both P<0.05). There were no significant differences of cumulative HCC-free survival (100 vs. 68% at 12 years, P=0.36) and survival (100 vs. 73% at 12 years, P=0.3) between SR group and NSR group. In conclusion, age below 35 years old and serum ALT levels above 7xULN may predict IFN-alpha therapy-induced SR among them, although we cannot affirm the effects on HCC prevention or survival.
Jang
Myoung Kuk
MK
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Seoul 134-701, South Korea.
Choi
Dae Ro
DR
Lee
Ja Young
JY
Moon
Han Kook
HK
Lee
Jun Ho
JH
Kim
Seong Man
SM
Kim
Kyung Ho
KH
Park
Joon Yong
JY
Lee
Jin Heon
JH
Kim
Hak Yang
HY
Kim
Dong Joon
DJ
Lee
Myung Seok
MS
Park
Choong Kee
CK
Yoo
Jae Young
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase