HBV DNA suppression in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon or placebo

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2011-11, Vol.83 (11), p.1917-1923
• Main Authors: Hansen, Bettina E., Rijckborst, Vincent, ter Borg, Martijn J., Janssen, Harry L.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; ALT flare; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; CHB; DNA, Viral - blood; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genotype; HBV DNA; Hepatitis B e Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis B, Chronic - pathology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - virology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interferon-alpha - administration & dosage; Liver Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; peginterferon; Placebos - administration & dosage; Polyethylene Glycols - administration & dosage; Recombinant Proteins - administration & dosage; Treatment Outcome; Viral diseases; Viral Load; Viremia - diagnosis; Virology
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.22208

The aim of the present study was to compare the decline of HBV DNA during peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) therapy with spontaneous HBV DNA decline in placebo‐treated patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B. A total of 136 patients who participated in a randomized trial were treated with PEG‐IFN alfa‐2b for 52 weeks. These patients were compared with 167 patients who received a placebo for 48 weeks using linear mixed regression analysis. Response was defined as loss of HBeAg at the end of treatment (EOT). Overall, decline of HBV DNA at the EOT was significantly greater in the PEG‐IFN group than in the placebo group (mean decline 2.3 log vs. 1.0 log, P