A meta -analysis of thymosin-?_1 monotherapy for chronic hepatitis B virus infection / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of thymosin alpha-1(T?_1,Zadaxin)monotherapy for chronic HBV infection by a meta-analysis of the published data. Methods Randomized controlled trials on thymosin alpha-1 monotherapy in chronic HBV infection were searched from electronic databases such as MEDLINE、PUBMED and Blackwell. Results Meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled studies investigating the safety and efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 monotherapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B showed that 6 months treatment with thymosin alpha-1(1.6 mg twice weekly)almost tripled the sustained response rate(38%)compared with controls(13%).Conclusion These results suggest that a 6-month course of thymosin alpha-1 therapy is effective and safe in patients with chronic hepatitis B;thymosin alpha-1 can effectively reduce HBV replication in CHB with patients. Compared with IFN-?,thymosin alpha-1 which has less side effects is better tolerated and seems to induce a gradual and more sustained normalization of ALT and loss of HBV DNA.