Baseline HBsAg predicts response to pegylated interferon-α2b in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients

摘要

AIM: To evaluate the predictive effect of baseline hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) on response to pegylated interferon(PEG-IFN)-α2b in hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients.METHODS: This retrospective analysis compared the treatment efficacy of PEG-IFN-α2b alone in 55 HBeAgpositive CHB patients with different baseline HBsAg levels. Serum HBV DNA load was measured at baseline, and at 12, 24 and 48 wk of therapy. Virological response was defined as HBV DNA 20 000 IU/mL, 26 patients had 1500-20000 IU/mL, and 11 patients had 20000 or 0.5 log10 and 30 patients 1.0 log10 and 30 patients 20000 IU/mL at week 24 achieved a virological response at week 48.CONCLUSION: Baseline HBsAg level in combination with HBV DNA may become an effective predictor for guiding optimal therapy with PEG-IFN-α2b against HBeAg-positive CHB.