Efficacy Of Pegylated-interferon In Treatment-experienced Chinese Patients With HBeAg Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

Background: High prevalence of relapse after treatment cessation was reported in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients in China, especially in nucleot(s)ide analogues(NUCs)-experienced patients. Re-treatment for these patients remains unsolved.Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Pegylated-interferon in HBeAg positive patients with exposure to antiviral therapy.Patients and Methods: 55 treatment-experienced and HBeAg positive Chinese patients were enrolled in this study(33 patients were NUCs-experienced and 22 were interferon-experienced). 34 patients received Pegylated-interferon and 21 were retreated with conventional interferon.Results: In all patients who received Pegylated-interferon, 52.9% treatment-experienced patients achieved virologic response(VR), 41.2% achieved HBeAg loss and seroconversion. Patients with Pegylated-interferon for 48 weeks achieved higher virologic response(80%), HBeAg loss(60%), HBeAg seroconversion(60%) and HBsAg loss(5%) than those of patients with Pegylated-interferon for 24 weeks, and also than those of patients with conventional interferon. 48 weeks Pegylated-interferon therapy duration was independently associated with HBeAg seroconversion in treatment-experienced patients.Conclusions: Pegylated-interferon was effective in treatment-experienced patients with HBeAg positive CHB, and showed higher rates of virological response, HBeAg loss and seroconversion. The results provide important information regarding the role of re-treatment with Pegylated-interferon in treatment-experienced HBeAg positive patients.