Long-term results of interferon alpha monotherapy in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.
We sought to evaluate the long-term results of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B. Eighty HBeAg-negative naive patients (62 men; mean age, 39.9 years) who received IFN-alpha for 6 months were studied. Alanine aminotransferase normalization with undetectable HBV-DNA by molecular hybridization was accepted as response. All patients but 1 were precirrhotic stage. At the end of treatment, 44 (55%) patients responded, and they were followed for a mean of 59.5 months (range, 18-132). Twenty-seven patients (61.4%) showed recurrence (63% in first year). Responses at 6 months and at the end of the follow-up period 42.5% and 30% (including 7 patients without end treatment response), respectively. Recurrence of HBV replication was not detected after the 2-years follow-up period. Histologic improvement was observed in 83.3% patients with end-of-follow-up response. HBsAg became negative in 4 patients (5%). On multivariate analysis, younger age (P = .04) and lower GGT level (P = .037) were independent factors for prediction of end-of-follow-up response. Nearly half of the patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B responds to IFN-alpha at the end of therapy. Despite the high recurrence rates, response continues in about one third of patients after a mean of 59.5 months.
Kaymakoglu
Sabahattin
S
Department of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Capa 34390, Istanbul, Turkey. kaymakoglus@hotmail.com
Danalioglu
Ahmet
A
Demir
Kadir
K
Karaca
Cetin
C
Akyuz
Filiz
F
Onel
Derya
D
Badur
Selim
S
Cevikbas
Ugur
U
Besisik
Fatih
F
Cakaloglu
Yilmaz
Y
Okten
Atilla
A
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins