The levels of HBsAg can predict the efficacy of peglated interferon-alpha 2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil, in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the levels of HBsAg in predicting the efficacy of peglated interferon-alpha 2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This trial enrolled 62 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with detectable HBsAg for at least 6 months prior to screening, serum HBV DNA levels of at least 100 000 IU/ml. The efficacy assessment viral suppression below 100 IU/ml. The patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml after 24 weeks therapy were divided into group A, in which monotherapy continued; While the rest were divided into group B, in which ADV was combined until week 48. In group B, at the end-of-treatment, the patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml were divided into group B1, the rest were divided into group B2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference on the baseline characteristics of patients between B1 and B2. There was significant difference on the levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week between B1 and B2; while there was no significant difference on the levels of HBeAg.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week would be predictors to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.</p>