ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of HBV genotypes to the response to PEG-interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
