RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation of HBV genotypes to the response to PEG-interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time fluorescent PCR was used for HBV genotyping in 48 CHB patients, and the therapeutic effects of PEG-IFN and hepatic pathological changes were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No obvious differences were noted in ALT and HBV DNA levels or negative rate for HBeAg between patients with genotypes B and C (P>0.05). The sustained response rate was significantly higher in genotype B than in genotype C patients 48 weeks o after the therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBV genotype is the main factor for predicting PEG-IFN therapy response in CHB patients, and the sustained response rate is significantly higher in genotype B than in genotype C patients.</p>