title: Comparison of adefovir dipivoxil and pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha 2a and adefovir dipivoxil treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on patients treated for chronic hepatitis B in the Infectious Disease Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University between 01.09.2005 and 31.03.2008. A total of 30 patients aged between 18 and 65 years constituted the study group. One of patient groups received (10 HBeAg negative, 4 HBeAg positive) PEG-IFN alpha 2a at a dose of 180 μg/once a week, whereas the other group (11 HBeAg negative, 5 HBeAg positive) received daily oral doses of 10 mg ADV. Treatment responses were evaluated at week 48.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reductions in serum HBV DNA levels at the end of 48 weeks were 4.8 log10 copy/ml and 4.2 log10 copy/ml in HBeAg negative patients who received ADV or PEG-IFN alpha 2a, respectively. Biochemical response rates were 60% and 91% in PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, respectively. Among HBeAg positive patients, reductions in serum HBV DNA levels were 3. 2 log10 copy/ml and 4 log10 copy/ml in ADV and PEG-IFN alpha 2a groups, at week 48, respectively. Biochemical response rates were 50% and 40% in PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, respectively. No significant difference was determined in biochemical and virological responses in HBeAg positive and negative patients between PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, at week 48. When both treatment groups were evaluated for side effects, it was observed that side effects were significantly common in PEG-IFN alpha 2a group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When we compared PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV treatment in both HBeAg positive and negative patients, biochemical and virological response rates at 48 weeks were similar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseaes and Clinical Microbiology, Yunus Emre State Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseaes and Clinical Microbiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gaye
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Usluer
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseaes and Clinical Microbiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozgunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseaes and Clinical Microbiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif Doyuk
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kartal
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseaes and Clinical Microbiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erben
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseaes and Clinical Microbiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saygin Nayman
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Alpat
keywords: Adefovir dipivoxil; chronic hepatitis B; pegylated interferon alpha 2a