title: [Efficacy of Peg-interferon alpha-2a combinated with entecavir on HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients with high serum hepatitis B viral loads].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of a combination treatment of entecavir and Peginterferon alpha-2a for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients with high serum hepatitis B viral loads.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 treatment-naive HBeAg-positive CHB patients with high serum hepatitis B viral loads were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups: group A received Peginterferon alpha-2a monotherapy for 48 weeks (n = 20); group B received entecavir monotherapy for more than 48 weeks (n = 20); group C received Peginterferona alpha-2a combined with entecavir for 12 weeks, then Peginterferon alpha-2a monotherapy for 36 weeks (n = 20). Virological response, ALT normalization, HBeAg and HBsAg seroclearance rate were analysed at the end of 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were 50% and 10%, 95% and 25% and 100% and 30% in group C and group A respectively, 50% and 20%, 95% and 75% and 100% and 90% in group C and group B respectively at the end of 4, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. The differences were significant between group C and A (Z = -4.6, P < 0.001), group C and B (Z = -2.53, P = 0.0114). ALT normalization rate was significantly lower in group A than that of group C (Z = -2.63, P = 0.0086). HBeAg levels declined more in group C than the other two groups after 24 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients with high serum hepatitis B viral loads, combination treament of Peginterferon alpha-2a with entecavir is more effective than Peginterferon alpha-2a monotherapy in virologic response and ALT normalization after 24 weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518112, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Ying-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Sha-Xi
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Si-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yi-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chuan-Tie
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei-Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bo-Ping
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a