HBsAg and HBeAg in the prediction of a clinical response to peginterferon α-2b therapy in Chinese HBeAg-positive patients. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Song; Xing, Huichun; Wang, Yuming; Hou, Jinlin; Luo, Duande; Xie, Qing; Ning, Qin; Ren, Hong; Ding, Huiguo; Sheng, Jifang; Wei, Lai; Chen, Shijun; Fan, Xiaoling; Huang, Wenxiang; Pan, Chen; Gao, Zhiliang; Zhang, Jiming; Zhou, Boping; Chen, Guofeng; Wan, Mobin; Tang, Hong; Wang, Guiqiang; Yang, Yuxiu; Xu, Dongping; Dong, Peiling; Wang, Qixin; Wang, Jue; Bognar, Fernando; Xu, Daozhen; Cheng, Jun
• Is Part Of: Virology journal. Volume 13:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Chronic hepatitis B -- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) -- Peginterferon alfa-2b -- Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) -- Combined response (CR); Virology -- Periodicals; 579.2
• DOI: 10.1186/s12985-016-0640-1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-422X

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the predictive values of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in 171 Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B who received a 48-week course of pegylated interferon alfa-2b therapy at 1.5 mcg/kg. Methods HBsAg, HBeAg, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were measured at baseline and weeks 12, 24, 48, and 72. Clinical responses were defined as a combined response (CR, HBeAg seroconversion [sustained response, SR] combined with HBV DNA level <2, 000 IU/mL at week 72). The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for HBsAg alone and/or combined with HBeAg and HBV DNA at weeks 12 and 24. Results Of 171 patients included, 58 (33.9 %) achieved a SR. Of patients who achieved a SR, 33 (56.9 %) achieved a CR. Totally 19.3 % (33/171) patients achieved CR and 80.7 % (138/171) patients did not. Patients with HBsAg <1500 IU/mL at week 12 had a 47.4 % chance of achieving an off-treatment SR and patients with a HBsAg decrease >1.5 logIU/mL at week 12 had a 54.5 % chance. Patients with HBsAg >20, 000 IU/mL at weeks 12 and 24 had a 93.8 and 100.0 % chance, respectively, of not achieving a CR. An HBsAg level or changes at weeks 12 and 24, combined with HBeAg or HBV DNA, increased the chance for a SR and CR. Conclusions On-treatment HBsAg quantification, alone or in combination with HBeAg or HBV DNA, predicted off-treatment SR and CR after 48 weeks of PEG-IFNα-2b therapy, and thus, may guide clinicians in making a therapeutic decision to continue or terminate the therapy.