title: Pegylated interferon in HBeAg-positive and -negative chronic hepatitis B patients: post-treatment 1-year results of three Turkish centres.
abstract: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the 1-year post-treatment follow-up results of 112 patients who received pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) for 52 weeks. HBeAg negativity/seroconversion and/or negative HBV-DNA at the end of the treatment were considered as response. Patients who had response at the end of treatment but had HBV-DNA breakthrough during 1-year follow-up were considered as relapse. The study group comprised 112 cases (34 HBeAg-positive, 78 HBeAg-negative). In HBeAg-positive and -negative cases, end-of-treatment response rates were 2·9% and 60·2%, whereas 1-year sustained virological response rates were 0 and 33·3%, respectively. When we compared relapse cases versus cases with response at the end of 1-year follow-up, being female and having low viral load were the two parameters associated with higher response rates (Chi-square, P  =  0·028; Mann-Whitney U test, P  =  0·023). Overall non-response rates to PEG-IFN were high (57·1%). Results in HBeAg-positive cases were disappointing.
authors.forename: Tansu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazhan
authors.forename: Behice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kurtaran
authors.forename: Hüsnü
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pullukçu
authors.forename: Esma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özkaya
authors.forename: Meltem Işıkgöz
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Taşbakan
authors.forename: Oğuz Reşat
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Sipahi
authors.forename: Raika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Durusoy
authors.forename: Hasan Salih Zeki
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Aksu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B,; Genotype,; Pegylated interferons,; Primary non-responders,; Secondary non-responders,; Treatment response