Influence of genotype on hepatitis B surface antigen kinetics in hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients treated with pegylated interferon-alpha2a.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes on serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) kinetics in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients treated with pegylated interferon-alpha2a (PEG-IFN-alpha2a).


METHODS
A total of 48 consecutive patients treated with PEG-IFN-alpha2a (180 microg/week) for 48 weeks were assessed. HBV genotype was determined. Serum HBV DNA and HBsAg were assessed at baseline, during treatment (weeks 12, 24 and 48) and during follow-up (weeks 72 and 96).


RESULTS
The distribution of HBV genotype was A 27%, B 17%, C 12%, D 29% and E 14%. Mean +/-sd pretreatment serum HBV DNA (6.9 +/-1.5 log(10) copies/ml) was not different between genotypes and decreased under treatment in all genotypes without significant difference. Mean +/-sd pretreatment serum HBsAg (3.6 +/-0.6 log(10) IU/ml) was significantly different between genotypes (P<0.001), with high levels in genotypes A and C, intermediate levels in genotypes D and E, and low levels in genotype B (4.0 +/-0.3, 4.1 +/-0.7, 3.6 +/-0.5, 3.6 +/-0.4 and 2.7 +/-0.6 log(10) IU/ml, respectively). Serum HBsAg decreased under treatment in all genotypes with a significant difference. At the end of treatment, mean +/-sd decrease was high in genotype A, intermediate in genotypes B and D, and low in genotypes C and E (1.3 +/-1.6, 0.7 +/-0.7, 0.6 +/-0.9, 0.4 +/-1.0 and 0.4 +/-0.9 log(10) IU/ml, respectively; P<0.001). During follow-up, serum HBsAg continued to decrease in genotypes A and D, whereas rebound was observed in genotypes B, C and E.


CONCLUSIONS
HBV genotype has a strong influence on serum HBsAg kinetics during PEG-IFN-alpha2a therapy in HBeAg-negative patients.
Moucari
Rami
R
AP-HP, Hôpital Beaujon, Service d'Hépatologie, Clichy, France.
Martinot-Peignoux
Michelle
M
Mackiewicz
Vincent
V
Boyer
Nathalie
N
Ripault
Marie-Pierre
MP
Castelnau
Corinne
C
Leclere
Laurence
L
Dauvergne
Agnes
A
Valla
Dominique
D
Vidaud
Michel
M
Nicolas-Chanoine
Marie-Hélène
MH
Marcellin
Patrick
P
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a