Prediction of sustained response to peginterferon alfa-2b for hepatitis B e antigen–positive chronic hepatitis B using on-treatment hepatitis B surface antigen decline

✍ Scribed by Milan J. Sonneveld; Vincent Rijckborst; Charles A. B. Boucher; Bettina E. Hansen; Harry L. A. Janssen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 231 KB
• Volume: 52
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.23844

✦ Synopsis

Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels may reflect the immunomodulatory efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN). We investigated within a large randomized trial whether quantitative HBsAg levels predict response to PEG-IFN in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B. Serum HBsAg was measured in samples taken at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 78 of 221 patients treated with PEG-IFN alfa-2b with or without lamivudine for 52 weeks. HBsAg decline was compared between treatment arms and between responders and nonresponders. Response was defined as HBeAg loss with HBV DNA < 10,000 copies/mL at 26 weeks after treatment (week 78); 43 of 221 (19%) patients achieved a response. One year of PEG-IFN with or without lamivudine resulted in a significant decline in serum HBsAg, which was sustained after treatment (decline 0.9 log IU/mL at week 78, P < 0.001). Patients treated with combination therapy experienced a more pronounced on-treatment decline, but relapsed subsequently. Responders experienced a significantly more pronounced decline in serum HBsAg compared to nonresponders (decline at week 52: 3.3 versus 0.7 log IU/mL, P < 0.001). Patients who achieved no decline at week 12 had a 97% probability of nonresponse through posttreatment follow-up and no chance of HBsAg loss. In a representative subset of 149 patients similar results were found for prediction through long-term (mean 3.0 years) follow-up.

Conclusion:

Peg-ifn induces a significant decline in serum hbsag in hbeag-positive patients. patients who experience no decline from baseline at week 12 have little chance of achieving a sustained response and no chance of hbsag loss and should be advised to discontinue therapy with peg-ifn.