Does Pegylated-Interferon Still Have High Efficacy Treatment Properties Against Chronic Hepatitis B?
Journal Title: Viral Hepatitis Journal - Year 2018, Vol 24, Issue 3
Abstract
Objectives: Pegylated-interferon (Peg-IFN) alpha 2a/2b and nucleoside and/or nucleotide analogues (NAs) are currently the only two treatment approaches approved for the chronic hepatitis B (CHB). To date, few studies have compared Peg-IFN with NAs in the treatment of CHB. We aimed in this study to evaluate the effectiveness of Peg-IFN and potent NAs (entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil) and to compare cumulative virological and serological responses in Turkish CHB patients treated between 2006 and 2016. Materials and Methods: In this observational retrospective study, we divided a total of 331 patients, who were diagnosed with CHB, into 3 groups: Peg-IFN treatment group (n=62), entecavir treatment group (n=131) and tenofovir disoproxil treatment group (n=138). Results: Virologic response rate in the Peg-IFN treatment group (90%) at 12 months was higher than in the NAs treatment groups (80% for entecavir and 76% for tenofovir disoproxil) (p<0.05). Sustained virologic response (SVR) rate at 24 months was 61% in the Peg-IFN group (p<0.001). The rate of hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion was significantly higher in the Peg-IFN group (25%) than in the NAs groups (16% for entecavir, 13% for tenofovir disoproxil). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion rate was also higher in the Peg-IFN than in the NAs treatment groups (7.9% vs. 0.9% and 0%, respectively) (p<0.001). After HBsAg seroconversion, the titers of anti-HBs were retained for over six months. Conclusion: Peg-IFN treatment was found to be effective with high SVR and hepatitis B e antigen and HBsAg seroconversion rates than NAs treatment in long-term follow-up of patients with CHB. Peg-IFN appears to be the first-choice treatment approach in patients with CHB until a new era in which hepatitis B is cured.
Authors and Affiliations
Figen SARIGÜL YILDIRIM, Ülkü USER, Murat SAYAN, Nefise ÖZTOPRAK
Keywords
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- EP ID EP427189
- DOI 10.4274/vhd.2018.0006
- Views 54
- Downloads 0
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