title: [Study on the relationship between hepatitis B virus genotypes and the effect of polyethylene glycol-interferon-alpha therapy on HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-interferon α (PEG-IFNα) in treating HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and explore the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and the effect of interferon α (IFNα) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 199 CHB patients with known genotypes were given subcutaneous injection of PEG-IFNα-2a or PEG-IFNα-2b once a week for 48 weeks, with another 24 weeks follow up. The seroconversion of HBeAg influenced by HBV genotypes were analyzed after discontinuation of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In local area, genotype C was the major genotype [64.32% (128/199) ]. Except serum ALT and AST level, the differences in gender, age, liver inflammation, degree of liver fibrosis, HBeAg level and HBV DNA level between genotype B and C were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The seroconversion rate of HBeAg in patients with genotype B at early stage of therapy (3 months) was significantly higher than that of patients with genotype C [26.76% (19/71) vs 10.16% (13/128), χ(2) = 9.330, P = 0.002]. While at the end of follow-up, seroconversion rate of HBeAg in patients with genotype B (followed up for 6 months) was higher than that of patients with genotype C [39.44% (28/71) vs 30.47% (39/128)], but the difference was not statistically significant (χ(2) = 1.645, P = 0.200). By univariate analysis based on log-rank test, the time of HBeAg seroconversion in patients with genotype B was much earlier than that of genotype C [(13.99 ± 0.67) months vs (15.47 ± 0.41) months], but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.150).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroconversion rate of HBeAg in patients with genotype B treated with PEG-IFNα was significantly higher than that of genotype C in early stage of therapy (3 months), while similar at the end of therapy.
authors: Guo-sheng
authors: GS
authors: Gao
authors: Xiao-zhen
authors: XZ
authors: Xu
authors: Liver Diseases Branch of Ningbo No.2 Hospital,Ningbo 315010, China. Email:hu510@126.com.
authors: Yao-ren
authors: YR
authors: Hu
authors: Hua-dong
authors: HD
authors: Yan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; 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; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
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