[Observation on effect of peg interferon lphaa-2a treating lamivudine resistant chronic hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of PEG-interferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFNalpha-2a) treatment on lamivudine (LAM)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with lamivudine-resistant HBeAg (+) chronic hepatitis B patients were enrolled and divided into PEG-IFNalpha-2a treatment group (40 cases) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) control group (41 cases). Two groups were combined with LAM in the first 12 weeks(w). The ALT normalization rate, the HBV DNA and HBeAg negative rate, and the HBeAg seroconversion rate were observed in 12 W, 24 W, 48 W. RESULTS: The ALT normalization rate in 12 W, 24 W of PEG-IFNalpha-2a group was 62.5% and 80.0%. And it was higher than that of ADV group. The HBeAg negative rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate in 48 W of PEG-IFNalpha-2a group were 60% and 57.5% , which were higher than that of ADV group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PEG-IFNalpha-2a treatment of lamivudine-resistant HBeAg (+) chronic hepatitis B is superior to ADV, and its security is well.

[Responses of peginterferon-alpha 2a antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the responses of peginterferon-alpha 2a antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: One hundred two CHB patients with their serum ALT values higher than 2x the upper limit of the normal (ULN) were divided into a HBeAg-positive and a HBeAg-negative group. All patients were treated with peginterferon-alpha 2a by subcutaneous injection (180 microgram once weekly). After treatment for 6 months, patients without a defined therapeutic response were dropped from the treatment group; the others completed a 12 month therapy. The sustained response and the antiviral effect of the treatment were assessed at the end of the therapy. To investigate the possible impact factors of the response to peginterferon-alpha 2a, we studied the therapeutic response of patients with different serum ALT levels, inflammation grades of liver histology, stages of fibrosis, and HBV viral load levels. RESULTS: (1) There was no statistical difference of the rates of response at the end of treatment and 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months after the cessation of therapy between the HBeAg-positive and the HBeAg-negative groups. (2) In the HBeAg-positive group, the rates of response of patients with serum ALT values>3*ULN were significantly higher than those with serum ALT values less than 3*ULN (x2=4.40). However, no statistical difference of serum ALT levels was found in the HBeAg-negative group. (3) In both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative groups, no difference was revealed in the rates of response among patients with different levels of HBV viral loads. (4) In the HBeAg-positive group, patients with more severe liver inflammation histologically (G3 and G4) had significantly higher response rates than those with milder inflammation (G1 and G2) (x2=4.19), but no similar statistical differences were found in the HBeAg-negative group. Moreover, there was no difference in the rates of response among patients in different stages of liver fibrosis in both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative groups. CONCLUSIONS: Similar rates of response and sustained virological response to the peginterferon-alpha 2a treatment can be achieved in both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients. Hepatic fibrosis is not a predictor of poor therapeutic response. For HBeAg-positive patients, more severe liver inflammation identified with liver biopsies (G3 or G4) and high serum ALT values (more than 3*ULN) can be considered as predictors of a good therapeutic response.