title: Peginterferon therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: less than meets the eye.
abstract: Pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) has been recommended as a first-line therapy for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B; however, data supporting this recommendation are derived from a single randomized controlled trial. In this issue of the Journal, Rijckborst et al. report the results of a second randomized controlled PEG IFN trial in 138 HBeAg-negative patients. The trial was undertaken to test the efficacy of adding ribavirin to PEG IFN; however, the results were unequivocal in concluding that adding ribavirin was not effective. Moreover, the efficacy of PEG IFN for these HBeAg-negative subjects was disappointing; only 7.5% of the study cohort had undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA (<400 copies/ml) 24 weeks after a 48-week course of therapy, and none lost hepatitis B surface antigen. This study challenges the value and limits the appeal of PEG IFN therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.
authors.forename: Jules L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dienstag
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a