2004 Volume 45 Issue 11 Pages 589-597
It is not unclear if there is a difference in the efficacy of IFN therapy for patients who are HBeAg-positive and for those who are HBeAg-negative. We have conducted a case-series study to know the effects of IFN in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were given a 24-week IFN therapy and followed up for more than 60 months [Mean: 108 months (60∼156)] after IFN treatment.
We studied 36 patients positive for serum HBV DNA comprising 21 HBeAg-positive and 15 HBeAg negative patients. All patients were injected with 6MU of lymphoblastoid IFN a thrice weekly for 24 weeks.
The sustained ALT normalization were defined as persistent (>24 months until last vist) biochemical responder (BR) during follow-up period. During 12 months after the end of IFN therapy, the rate of BR was 29% (6/21) of HBeAg-positive patients and 53% (8/15) of HBeAg-negative. More than 60 months after the end of IFN treatment, 10 (48%) of 21 HBeAg-positive patients remained as BR versus 7 (47%) of 15 HBeAg-negative. The rate of the sustained clearance of HBV-DNA was 33% in both HBeAg-positive/negative patients. The ALT normalization at the end of IFN treatment was a significant factor which defines the accumulated rate of sustained ALT normalization (Logrank method, p=0.0047).
A 24-week IFN treatment is beneficial for HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative Patients with chronic hepatitis B.
