title: Efficacy of pegylated interferon-α treatment for 24 months in chronic delta hepatitis and predictors of response.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the efficacy of pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α) therapy for 24 months in chronic delta hepatitis (CDH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CDH who were treated by PEG-IFN-α2a or -2b for 24 months were included in the study. Demographic, biochemical and virological parameters were recorded at baseline and during follow-up. All included patients completed a treatment period of 24 months and at least a 6 month (range 6-60) follow-up period. Biochemical and virological response rates at end of treatment and end of follow-up were calculated, and predictors of sustained virological response (SVR) were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 32 patients (22 males; mean age ± SD 42.7 ± 12 years) with CDH who were treated with PEG-IFN-α2a (180 µg) or -2b (1.5 µg/kg) once a week subcutaneously for 24 months were included in the study. All patients had compensated liver disease (25 [78%] were non-cirrhotic), increased transaminase levels and HDV RNA positivity at baseline. Genotypic analyses of HDV showed genotype I in all. Mean duration of follow-up was 19.5 months. At the end of treatment, virological response was achieved in 16 (50%) patients. SVR at the end of follow-up was achieved in 15 (47%) patients. A negative HDV RNA at 6 months of treatment was the only predictor of SVR (OR = 20; 95% CI 2, 195; P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEG-IFN-α treatment achieved SVR in approximately half of the patients with CDH, and relapse rate was very low during the follow-up. Negativity of HDV RNA at 6 months may predict SVR in CDH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Ozlem M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Asli C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ormeci
authors.forename: Suut
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gokturk
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evirgen
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akyuz
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Besisik
authors.forename: Sabahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaymakoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058889:Molecular Typing; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a