HBsAg profiles in patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for the treatment of dual chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses.
BACKGROUND
With use of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with dual chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 11.2% of patients achieved clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at 6 months after treatment; however, reactivation of HBV DNA was observed in 36.3%. We investigated the predictive potential of HBsAg quantification.


METHODS
HBsAg quantification was performed in 120 e antigen-negative patients dually infected with HBV and hepatitis C virus and treated with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks (HCV genotype 1; n = 74) or 24 weeks (HCV genotype 2/3; n = 46). HBsAg was quantified at baseline, week 4, week 12, end of treatment, and 24 weeks after treatment.


RESULTS
The baseline median serum HBsAg level was 120 IU/mL and decreased gradually during treatment. Low baseline HBsAg was significantly associated with HBsAg clearance (40% for HBsAg level 20 IU/mL vs 2.2% for HBsAg level >20 IU/mL; P < .05). A decrease in HBsAg level from baseline to week 12 of 50% was associated with a reduced likelihood of HBV DNA reactivation in patients with baseline undetectable serum HBV DNA (positive predictive value, 89.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
HBsAg quantification appears to be a useful indicator of posttreatment outcome in patients dually infected with HBV and hepatitis C virus.
Yu
Ming-Lung
ML
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Lee
Chuan-Mo
CM
Chuang
Wan-Long
WL
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
Dai
Chia-Yen
CY
Huang
Jee-Fu
JF
Lin
Zu-Yau
ZY
Hu
Tsung-Hui
TH
Chen
Chien-Hung
CH
Hung
Chao-Hung
CH
Wang
Jin-Houng
JH
Chen
Chi-Ling
CL
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
Lai
Ming-Yang
MY
Liu
Chen-Hua
CH
Su
Tung-Hung
TH
Wu
Shun-Sheng
SS
Liao
Li-Ying
LY
Kuo
Hsing-Tao
HT
Chao
You-Chen
YC
Tung
Shui-Yi
SY
Yang
Sien-Sing
SS
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Liu
Chun-Jen
CJ
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014775:Virus Activation
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a