48 weeks pegylated interferon alpha-2a is superior to 24 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha-2b in achieving hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B infection.
OBJECTIVE
Although 48-week therapy with pegylated-interferons has been shown to be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, the efficacy of a shorter duration of therapy with pegylated interferons is unknown.


METHODS
We reviewed 53 hepatitis B e antigen positive Chinese patients treated with 48 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha-2a or 24 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha-2b. Sustained virological response was defined as hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and hepatitis B virus DNA <10(5) copies/mL at week 72.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine patients were treated with 48 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha-2a and 24 patients with 24 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha-2b. At the end-of-therapy, hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and hepatitis B virus DNA <10(5) copies/mL were similar between the two groups of patients [9/29 (31.0%) vs. 2/24 (8.3%), respectively, P = 0.09]. At week 72, 10 of the 29 patients (34.5%) treated with 48 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha-2a compared with two of the 24 patients (8.3%) treated with 24 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha-2b had sustained virological response (P = 0.04). By logistic analysis, 48 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha-2a was independently associated with sustained virological response (P = 0.04 adjusted hazards-ratio 9.37).


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are required to determine the optimal duration of therapy with pegylated interferons in chronic hepatitis B.
Hui
C-K
CK
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. ckhui23@gmail.com
Lai
L S W
LS
Lam
P
P
Zhang
H-Y
HY
Fung
T-T
TT
Lai
S-T
ST
Wong
W-M
WM
Lo
C-M
CM
Fan
S-T
ST
Leung
N
N
Lau
G K K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a