Study on the relationship between hepatitis B virus genotypes and the effect of polyethylene glycol-interferon-alpha therapy on HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B / 中华内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-interferon α (PEG-IFNα) in treating HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and explore the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and the effect of interferon α (IFNα) therapy.Methods A total of 199 CHB patients with known genotypes were given subcutaneous injection of PEG-IFNα-2a or PEG-IFNαt-2b once a week for 48 weeks,with another 24 weeks follow up.The seroconversion of HBeAg influenced by HBV genotypes were analyzed after discontinuation of treatment.Results In local area,genotype C was the major genotype[64.32％ (128/199)].Except serum ALT and AST level,the differences in gender,age,liver inflammation,degree of liver fibrosis,HBeAg level and HBV DNA level between genotype B and C were not statistically significant(all P ＞0.05).The seroconversion rate of HBeAg in patients with genotype B at early stage of therapy (3 months) was significantly higher than that of patients with genotype C [26.76％ (19/71) vs 10.16％ (13/128),x2 =9.330,P =0.002].While at the end of follow-up,seroconversion rate of HBeAg in patients with genotype B (followed up for 6 months) was higher than that of patients with genotype C [39.44％ (28/71) vs 30.47％ (39/128)],but the difference was not statistically significant(x2 =1.645,P =0.200).By univariate analysis based on log-rank test,the time of HBeAg seroconversion in patients with genotype B was much earlier than that of genotype C [(13.99 ± 0.67) months vs (15.47 ± 0.41)months],but the difference was not statistically significant (P =0.150).Conclusions The seroconversion rate of HBeAg in patients with genotype B treated with PEG-IFNα was significantly higher than that of genotype C in early stage of therapy (3 months),while similar at the end of therapy.