Long-Term Follow-Up Of Hepatitis B E Antigen-Negative Patients Treated With Peginterferon Alpha-2a: Progressive Decrease In Hepatitis B Surface Antigen In Responders

Objective Peginterferon (PEG-IFN) is considered as a first-line treatment option for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B. We aimed to evaluate the long-term response to PEG-IFN in HBeAg-negative patients.Methods All patients enrolled in the PARC study who completed the treatment phase were eligible for this long-term follow-up (LTFU) study. Patients received PEG-IFN alpha-2a (180 mu weekly)+/- ribavirin (1000-1200mg daily) for 48 weeks and had at least one additional LTFU visit after the initial follow-up period of 24 weeks (mean duration 2.1 +/- 0.2 years). Retreated patients were considered nonresponders.Results Of 117 patients who completed the treatment phase, 79 (68%) were included in this LTFU study. Among 19 patients with a combined response at 24 weeks after treatment [ initial responders; hepatitis B virus DNA<10 000 copies/ml (<1714 IU/ml) and normal alanine aminotransferase], 12 (63%) sustained this response through LTFU. Three additional patients showed such a response at LTFU, resulting in a total of 15 (19%) combined responders at LTFU. A marked decrease in the serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels was observed in initial responders, resulting in HBsAg clearance in 26% of the patients (6% of all LTFU participants).Conclusion About one-third of HBeAg-negative patients with a response to PEG-IFN at 24 weeks after treatment subsequently had a relapse during 2 years of follow-up. Despite the limited overall efficacy of PEG-IFN, patients responding to PEG-IFN treatment showed a marked decrease in serum HBsAg, resulting in a high rate of HBsAg clearance, which indicates the need for predictors of response to PEG-IFN in HBeAg-negative disease. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 24: 1012-1019 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.