title: Pegylated interferon alfa-2B for chronic delta hepatitis: 12 versus 24 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2b for short (one year) and long (two years) terms of treatment for chronic hepatitis D.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with chronic hepatitis D were administered PEG-IFN alfa-2b 1.5μg/kg twice weekly for 1 month, after which they were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive PEG-IFN alfa-2b 1.5μg/kg/wk for an additional 23 months (n=11; group 1) or 11 months (n=7; group 2). All patients were followed-up for 6 months after completing therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 1, there was no significant difference between HDV-RNA and ALT levels at follow-up compared with baseline (p=0.219 and p=0.624, respectively). However, in group 2, HDVRNA levels, but not ALT levels, were significantly lower at the end of follow-up (EOF) than at baseline (p=0.016 and p=0.237, respectively). Three patients, all in group 2, had undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at the end of followup (EOF). However, there was no patient who had undetectable HBsAg in group I (p=0.043). There were statistical differences for all 18 patients in terms of baseline levels of HDV-RNA compared to end of treatment (EOT) (p=0.021) and EOF (p=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extending therapy from 12 to 24 months conferred no additional advantage in terms of HDV-RNA suppression and ALT normalisation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ormeci
authors.forename: Füsun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bölükbaş
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erden
authors.forename: Sahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coban
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ekiz
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palabıyıkoğlu
authors.forename: Ali Reşit
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Beyler
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balık
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bölükbaş
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nazlıgül
authors.forename: Seyfettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köklü
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b