title: Response to interferon-alpha in chronic hepatitis B patients with and without precore mutant strain and effects on HBsAg titers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects 400 million people worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is known that HBV DNA sequences were detected after the clearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) often in serum, liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the previous measurements of HBsAg titers versus. quantitative hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and ALT measurements in order to predict the nonresponse and response in interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-treated HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic HBV patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigate whether the presence of precore mutant affects the response to IFN-alpha therapy and on the titer of HBsAg or not. Twenty-one HBeAg-positive (group 1), 38 HBeAg-negative (group 2), and 47 healthy inactive carriers (group 3) made up this study. Liver biopsy showed chronic hepatitis, there was no cirrhosis and none of the patients had IFN-alpha therapy before.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decrease in HBsAg titers was found as statistically not significant in groups 1 (p = 0.192) and 3 (p = 0.236) and statistically significant in group 2 (p = 0.0001) within a 6-month interval.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBsAg titer may be a factor to predict the primary responders and nonresponders specially in HBeAg-negative patients.
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Umuttepe, Kocaeli, Turkey. silacetin@superonline.com
authors.forename: Sila Cetin
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Akhan
authors.forename: Zerrin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yulugkural
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vahaboglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002353:Carrier State; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase