title: Extended peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) therapy in Chinese patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: The present study compared the efficacy of standard and extended durations of PEG-IFNα-2a monotherapy for treatment of HBeAg-negative Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B. Patients were randomized to receive standard therapy (n = 38; 48 weeks treatment) or extended therapy (n = 42; 72 weeks treatment). Extended therapy resulted in a significantly higher HBV DNA inhibition at 24 and 48 weeks after the end of treatment, a significantly higher sustained HBV DNA inhibition at the end of treatment, and a significantly lower HBsAg level at 24 and 48 weeks after the end of treatment (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). The HBsAg clearance rate was significantly greater in the extended therapy group than in the standard therapy group at 24 and 48 weeks post-treatment (33.3% vs. 10.5% and 35.7% vs. 10.5%, respectively; P < 0.05 for both). In addition, patients with an increase of more than 1 log10  IU/ml in HBsAg level from baseline to week 24 had a significantly lower level of HBsAg at end of treatment (0.54 ± 1.76 vs. 2.89 ± 1.27, P < 0.001), but a higher level of HBsAg clearance (64.3% vs. 7.6%, P < 0.001). Assessment of HBsAg level at week 24 appears to be a suitable checkpoint. These results indicate that 72 weeks of PEG-IFNα-2a monotherapy benefits HBeAg-negative Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B who are infected with HBV genotype B or C.
authors: Department of Infection, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xuefu
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Xiaoping
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Wenli
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: Xiaojun
authors: X
authors: Ma
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: Ren
authors: R
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: HBV DNA; HBeAg; HBsAg clearance rate; PEG-IFNα-2a; chronic hepatitis B