title: [The therapeutic effects of pegasys in chronic hepatitis B patients with low-level ALT].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the therapeutic effects of Pegasys (pegylated interferon alpha-2a) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with low-level alanine transaminase (ALT) < 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven CHB patients were randomized enrolled including 52 with ALT < 2 x ULN and liver tissues inflammation activity > or = G2 as observational group and 55 with ALT > 2 x ULN as control group. All the enrolled patients received pegasys treatment for 48 weeks and the responses between two groups were compared. Measurement data were analyzed using t test and numeration data were analyzed using chi square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reductions of HBV DNA in observational group at different time points were all less than control group (all P < 0.05). At the end of treatment, the HBV DNA negative rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate and HBsAg loss rate in the observational group were 51.9%, 48.8% and 1.9% , respectively, which were all lower than control group (67.3% , 66.7% and 7. 3% , respectivley) ( all P <0. 05). The ALT normalization rates of two groups were 75% and 76.4% (P > 0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pegasys is efficient for CHB patients with ALT < 2 x ULN and liver tissues inflammation activity > or = G2, while it is still inferior to those with ALT > 2 x ULN.
authors: The Second Hospital of Zhejiang, Ningbo 315000, China.
authors: Yun-Song
authors: YS
authors: Qian
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a