title: [The levels of HBsAg can predict the efficacy of peglated interferon-alpha 2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil, in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the levels of HBsAg in predicting the efficacy of peglated interferon-alpha 2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This trial enrolled 62 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with detectable HBsAg for at least 6 months prior to screening, serum HBV DNA levels of at least 100 000 IU/ml. The efficacy assessment: viral suppression below 100 IU/ml. The patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml after 24 weeks therapy were divided into group A, in which monotherapy continued; While the rest were divided into group B, in which ADV was combined until week 48. In group B, at the end-of-treatment, the patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml were divided into group B1, the rest were divided into group B2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference on the baseline characteristics of patients between B1 and B2. There was significant difference on the levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week between B1 and B2; while there was no significant difference on the levels of HBeAg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week would be predictors to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
authors.forename: Hai-xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-an
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qi-huan
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; 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; D063065:Organophosphonates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000225:Adenine; C106812:adefovir dipivoxil