title: HBsAg and HBeAg in the prediction of a clinical response to peginterferon α-2b therapy in Chinese HBeAg-positive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the predictive values of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in 171 Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B who received a 48-week course of pegylated interferon alfa-2b therapy at 1.5 mcg/kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBsAg, HBeAg, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were measured at baseline and weeks 12, 24, 48, and 72. Clinical responses were defined as a combined response (CR, HBeAg seroconversion [sustained response, SR] combined with HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at week 72). The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for HBsAg alone and/or combined with HBeAg and HBV DNA at weeks 12 and 24.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 171 patients included, 58 (33.9 %) achieved a SR. Of patients who achieved a SR, 33 (56.9 %) achieved a CR. Totally 19.3 % (33/171) patients achieved CR and 80.7 % (138/171) patients did not. Patients with HBsAg <1500 IU/mL at week 12 had a 47.4 % chance of achieving an off-treatment SR and patients with a HBsAg decrease >1.5 logIU/mL at week 12 had a 54.5 % chance. Patients with HBsAg >20,000 IU/mL at weeks 12 and 24 had a 93.8 and 100.0 % chance, respectively, of not achieving a CR. An HBsAg level or changes at weeks 12 and 24, combined with HBeAg or HBV DNA, increased the chance for a SR and CR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On-treatment HBsAg quantification, alone or in combination with HBeAg or HBV DNA, predicted off-treatment SR and CR after 48 weeks of PEG-IFNα-2b therapy, and thus, may guide clinicians in making a therapeutic decision to continue or terminate the therapy.
authors: Center of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
authors: Song
authors: S
authors: Yang
authors: Center of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
authors: Huichun
authors: H
authors: Xing
authors: Southwest Hospital Affiliated Third Military Medical University, Shapingba, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors: Yuming
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Guangzhou Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
authors: Jinlin
authors: J
authors: Hou
authors: Xiehe Hospital Affiliated Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
authors: Duande
authors: D
authors: Luo
authors: Shanghai Ruijin Hospital affilated Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Xie
authors: Tongji Hospital Affiliated Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Ning
authors: The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Ren
authors: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100069, China.
authors: Huiguo
authors: H
authors: Ding
authors: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Medical College, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
authors: Jifang
authors: J
authors: Sheng
authors: Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China.
authors: Lai
authors: L
authors: Wei
authors: Jinan Infectious Disease Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China.
authors: Shijun
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Center of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
authors: Xiaoling
authors: X
authors: Fan
authors: No. 1 Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
authors: Wenxiang
authors: W
authors: Huang
authors: Fuzhou Infectious Disease Hospital, Gulou District, Fuzhou, 350025, China.
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Pan
authors: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors: Zhiliang
authors: Z
authors: Gao
authors: Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors: Jiming
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Shenzhen Donghu Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, China.
authors: Boping
authors: B
authors: Zhou
authors: Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors: Guofeng
authors: G
authors: Chen
authors: Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors: Mobin
authors: M
authors: Wan
authors: West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Tang
authors: Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
authors: Guiqiang
authors: G
authors: Wang
authors: Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
authors: Yuxiu
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors: Dongping
authors: D
authors: Xu
authors: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100069, China.
authors: Peiling
authors: P
authors: Dong
authors: Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors: Qixin
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors: Jue
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., 600 Corporate Drive, Lebanon, NJ, 08833, USA.
authors: Fernando A
authors: FA
authors: Bognar
authors: Center of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China.
authors: Daozhen
authors: D
authors: Xu
authors: Center of Hepatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, China. jun.cheng.ditan@gmail.com.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044466:Asian People; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Combined response (CR); Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg); Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); Peginterferon alfa-2b