Long-term follow-up of hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients treated with peginterferon α-2a: progressive decrease in hepatitis B surface antigen in responders.
Title | Long-term follow-up of hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients treated with peginterferon α-2a: progressive decrease in hepatitis B surface antigen in responders. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Rijckborst, V., Ferenci P., Akdogan M., Pinarbasi B., Borg M. J. ter, Simon K., Flisiak R., Akarca U. S., Raptopoulou-Gigi M., Verhey E., van Vuuren A. J., Boucher C. A., Hansen B. E., & Janssen H. L. A. |
Corporate Authors | PARC Study Group |
Journal | Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol |
Volume | 24 |
Issue | 9 |
Pagination | 1012-9 |
Date Published | 2012 Sep |
ISSN | 1473-5687 |
Keywords | Adult, Antiviral Agents, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hepatitis B e Antigens, Hepatitis B, Chronic, Humans, Interferon-alpha, Male, Middle Aged, Polyethylene Glycols, Recombinant Proteins, Ribavirin, Treatment Outcome |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Peginterferon (PEG-IFN) is considered as a first-line treatment option for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B. We aimed to evaluate the long-term response to PEG-IFN in HBeAg-negative patients.METHODS: All patients enrolled in the PARC study who completed the treatment phase were eligible for this long-term follow-up (LTFU) study. Patients received PEG-IFN α-2a (180 μg weekly) ± ribavirin (1000-1200 mg daily) for 48 weeks and had at least one additional LTFU visit after the initial follow-up period of 24 weeks (mean duration 2.1 ± 0.2 years). Retreated patients were considered nonresponders.RESULTS: Of 117 patients who completed the treatment phase, 79 (68%) were included in this LTFU study. Among 19 patients with a combined response at 24 weeks after treatment [initial responders; hepatitis B virus DNA<10 000 copies/ml (<1714 IU/ml) and normal alanine aminotransferase], 12 (63%) sustained this response through LTFU. Three additional patients showed such a response at LTFU, resulting in a total of 15 (19%) combined responders at LTFU. A marked decrease in the serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels was observed in initial responders, resulting in HBsAg clearance in 26% of the patients (6% of all LTFU participants).CONCLUSION: About one-third of HBeAg-negative patients with a response to PEG-IFN at 24 weeks after treatment subsequently had a relapse during 2 years of follow-up. Despite the limited overall efficacy of PEG-IFN, patients responding to PEG-IFN treatment showed a marked decrease in serum HBsAg, resulting in a high rate of HBsAg clearance, which indicates the need for predictors of response to PEG-IFN in HBeAg-negative disease. |
DOI | 10.1097/MEG.0b013e3283557e23 |
Alternate Journal | Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol |
PubMed ID | 22668876 |