title: Potent hepatitis B surface antigen response to treatment of hepatitis-B-e-antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B with α-interferon plus a nucleos(t)ide analog.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is the closest cure outcome in hepatitis B. The goal of this study was to investigate clinical features in chronic hepatitis B patients achieving seroconversion of HBsAg after treatment with α-interferon (IFN-α) and a nucleos(t)ide analog.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study enrolled 38 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with IFN-α plus a nucleos(t)ide analog who achieved HBsAg seroconversion during the period from June 2001 to May 2009. Clinical and laboratory data of the patients were collected before and after treatment every 3 months. All patients with HBsAg seroconversion in this study were followed up for at least 12 months post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 out of 142 patients achieved HBsAg seroconversion after treatment with IFN-α and a nucleos(t)tide analog for a prolonged period of time (medium 31 months). The median time to hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and to HBsAg seroconversion was 19.5 months (range 3-60 months) and 25.5 months (range 9-63 months), respectively. Thirty-six patients (95%) sustained HBsAg seroconversion during the post-treatment follow up. Three different HBsAg response patterns were observed with classical model accounting for 57.9% (22/38 cases), simultaneous transition mode accounting for 23.7% (9/38 cases), and HBsAg prior transition model accounting for 18.4% (7/38 cases).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extended treatment with IFN-α in combination with a nucleos(t)ide analog in patients with hepatitis-B-e-antigen-positive appears to be a promising approach for achieving a high rate of HBsAg clearance-the closest outcome to cure.
authors.affiliation: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. chenxy63050639@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xinyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhenhuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Haibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D063065:Organophosphonates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019259:Lamivudine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a