title: Hepatitis B virus genotype B is associated with better response to thymosin alpha1 therapy than genotype C.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype has been reported to correlate with response to interferon treatment in several studies. The relationship between HBV genotype and thymosin alpha1 (T-alpha1) treatment is unknown. We retrospectively examine HBV genotypes, precore and core promoter mutations in patients treated with Talpha1 and analyse the correlation between complete response [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization plus seroclearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA] and HBV genotype. It consisted 98 patients with chronic hepatitis B randomly allocating to three groups: (i) T6 group (n = 32) received a 26-week course of Talpha1 1.6 mg two times a week; (ii) T12 group (n = 34) received the same regimen as T6 group, but Talpha1 therapy extended for 52 weeks; (iii) T0 group (n = 32) served as a control and was followed up for 18 months without specific treatment. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that genotype (OR, 3.747; 95% CI, 1.066-13.170; P = 0.039), precore mutation (OR, 6.285; 95% CI, 1.874-21.086; P = 0.003) and Talpha-1 treatment (OR, 12.045; 95% CI, 2.220-65.354; P = 0.004) as independent factors associated with complete response. The complete response of Talpha-1 therapy was higher in patients with genotype B compared to patients with genotype C (52%vs 24%; P = 0.036) and in patients with precore mutation (64%vs 19%; P = 0.002). In conclusion, genotype, presence of precore mutation and Talpha-1 therapy were independent predictors to complete response. Genotype B, compared to genotype C, is associated with a higher response rate to T-alpha1 therapy.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and University, Keelung, Taiwan. ronald@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: R-N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C-T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Y-F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D013947:Thymosin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000077596:Thymalfasin