Efficacy of consensus interferon in treatment of HbeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a multicentre, randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Consensus interferon (CIFN) is a newly developed type I interferon.


OBJECTIVE
This multicentre, controlled trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of CIFN and to compare it with alpha-1b-interferon (IFN-alpha1b) in the treatment of patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
144 Patients were randomly assigned to receive 9 microg CIFN (CIFN group) or 50 microg INF-alpha1b (IFN-alpha group) subcutaneously 3 times weekly for 24 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of observation. Efficacy was assessed by normalization of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and the non-detectability of serum hepatitis B virus DNA or HBeAg at the end of treatment and 24 weeks after stopping treatment.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the serological, virological and biochemical parameters between CIFN and IFN-alpha1b groups at the end of the therapy and follow-up period (p > 0.05). Overall, at the end of treatment, 7.0% (5/71) and 35.2% (25/71) of patients in the CIFN group showed a complete or partial response compared with 7.4% (5/68) and 33.8% (23/68) of the IFN-alpha group (p = 0.10). At 24 weeks after stopping treatment, 6.9% (5/72) and 37.5% (27/72) of patients in the CIFN group showed complete response or partial response compared with 7.1% (5/70) and 34.3% (24/70) of the IFN-alpha group (p = 0.10).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that 9 microg CIFN is effective in the treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. It can gradually induce ALT normalization and HBV DNA clearance and HBeAg loss or HBeAg/HBeAb seroconversion.
Zheng
YongLi
Y
Infectious Disease Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China. zhyl1973@live.com
Zhao
LianSan
L
Wu
TaiXiang
T
Guo
ShuHua
S
Chen
YaGang
Y
Zhou
TaoYou
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C050739:interferon alfacon-1; D000410:Alanine Transaminase