Peginterferon alfa-2b in the treatment of Chinese patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a randomized trial.

•A randomized study of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.•PEG-IFN alfa-2b (1.5μg/kg/wk or 1.0μg/kg/wk) was administered for 24 or 48 weeks.•HBeAg loss was greater in patients receiving PEG-IFN (1.5μg/kg/wk) for 48 weeks.•Secondary measures of efficacy also favor the 48-week regimen.•Safety was generally similar with 24- and 48-week regimens.