Effect Of Peginterferon Alfa-2b For Chronic Hepatitis B:24 Weeks Observation

Objective:To assess the effect of 24 weeks treatment with peginterferon alfa-2b forboth HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods:Patients were from infection department of our hospital. Patients wereeligible if they had been 16 years old or older, male or female, positive forhepatitis B surface antigen for at least 6 months, abnormal for liverfunction for at least 3 months, and if positive for HBeAg, had an HBV DNAlevel of more than 100,000 copies per milliliter, or if negative for HBeAg,had an HBV DNA level of more than 10,000 copies per milliliter, had a serumalanine aminotransferase level that was equal to or greater than 2 but lessthan 10 times the upper limit of the normal range. Patients were divided intotwo groups, the group of HBeAg positive CHB and the group of HBeAg negativeCHB. In each group patients received either peginterferon alfa-2b (1μg/kgonce weekly) or conventional interferon (50μg every two days). Patients weretreated for 24 weeks. Efficacy analyses was made at week 24. For HBeAgpositive CHB, the predetermined primary measure was HBeAg clearance, while itwas HBV DNA levels below 10,000 copies per milliliter for HBeAg negative CHB.All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Program forSocial Sciences (SPSS 10.0).Results:A total of 69 patients with chronic hepatitis B were eligible, while 50 inHBeAg positive and 19 in HBeAg negative, respectively. At week 24, for HBeAgpositive CHB, HBeAg clearance between the group of peginterferon alfa-2b and the group of conventional interferon was 44.4 percent vs. 39.1. HBeAgseroconversion (defined as loss of HBeAg with the development of anti-HBe) was22.2 percent vs. 8.7 percent.HBV DNA levels below 100,000 copies permilliliter was 59.1 percent vs. 47.8 percent. Normalization of alanineaminotransferase levels was 37 percent vs. 34.8 percent. Combined response(HBeAg clearance, HBV DNA levels below 100,000 copies per milliliter, andnormalization of alanine aminotransferase) was 18.5 percent vs. 17.4 percent.For HBeAg negative CHB, HBV DNA levels below 10,000 copies per milliliter was100 percent vs. 69.2 percent. Normalization of alanine aminotransferaselevels was 33.3 percent vs. 53.8 percent. Combined response(HBV DNA levelsbelow 10,000 copies per milliliter, and normalization of alanineaminotransferase) was 33.3 percent vs. 46.2 percent. There were nosignificantly differences between the group of peginterferon alfa-2b and thegroup of conventional interferon at week 24 for HBeAg positive CHB or forHBeAg negative CHB.Conclusion:Nearly half of patients had HBeAg clearance and more than half got HBV DNAsuppression (HBV DNA levels below 100,000 copies per milliliter) after 24-week treament with peginterferon alfa-2b for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitisB. But long-term effects need to be further follow up. Patients who hadcleared HBeAg but did not have HBeAg seroconversion may need to extend theperiod of treatment. Long-term efficacy of 24 weeks treatment withpeginterferon alfa-2b for HBeAg netative CHB remains to be further followedup. Peginterferon alfa-2b is superior to conventional interferon for chronichepatitis B.