Study On The Relationship Between HBV Genotypes And Efficacy Of Interferon Therapy In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and antiviral response to interferon alpha (IFN- a ) in Shenzhen area and study the predictors of efficacy of IFN- a therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.MethodsThe clinical, biochemical, serologic and virologic parameters in 121 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with IFN- a were collected. HBV genotypes and basic core promoter (BCP) mutation were determined by PCR microplate hybridrization-ELISA assay. The relationship between B and C genotype of HBV and the antiviral response to IFN- a was investigated. The predictors of efficacy of IFN- a therapy in patients with chronic HBV infection were analyzed.ResultsHBV genotyping was carried out in 121 serum samples from the patients with chronic hepatitis B. The genotype B was detected in 46 patients (38%), genotype C in 47 patients (39%), genotype D in 2 patients. Mixted genotype of B, C and D in 26 patients. There were no genotype of A, E and F in this group of patients. Baseline data of both genotype B and C patients were comparable. However, genotype B of HBV had a higher frequency of BCP mutation. Antiviral response rates to IFN- a in patients with genotype B and C were 65.2% and 38.3%, respectively (x2=6.746, P=0.009) . The response rate to IFN- a in patients with BCP mutation was significantly higher than those with no BCP mutation (65.8% vs 41.8%, x2=5.171, P=0.023) . Multivariate analysis showed that genotype B of HBV, elevated pretreatment alanine amiotransferase (ALT) levels and low pretreatment HBV DNA load were the independent predictors of efficacy of IFN- a therapy in patients with chronic HBV infection.ConclusionsOur results showed that genotype B of HBV was associated with a higher rate of IFN-induced HBeAg clearance and HBV DNA loss compared with genotype C. HBV genotype is an important predictor of antiviral response to IFN- a .In the treatment of the patients with chronic hepatitis B, stratification for HBV genotypes should be considered in future clinical trial of antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B.