Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen combined with hepatitis B e antigen as sustained virological response predictors during extended therapy with Peginterferon alfa-2a for hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND

The best strategy for chronic hepatitis B patients with poor response to 48 weeks of Peginterferon-based therapy has been controversial and the predictive value of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels for determining the sustained virological response (SVR) of these patients is uncertain.

OBJECTIVES

To optimize management of these patients and evaluate the use of these serobiomarkers to predict SVR.

STUDY DESIGN

Eighty-one patients with an unsatisfactory response after 48 weeks of Peginterferon-based therapy were treated with extended Peginterferon therapy with or without nucleo(s) tide analogues (NAs), for a total of 96 weeks of Peginterferon treatment. HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA levels were measured serially during the treatment and follow-up.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-six of 81 patients (32.1%) attained SVR during the 72-week follow-up. The SVR rate was not statistically different between groups receiving 1-year prolongation of Peginterferon with or without NAs. The serum HBsAg cut-off of 1800IU/mL at week 48 had area under curve (AUC) of 0.727, and the serum HBsAg cut-off of 1500IU/mL, combined with HBeAg loss at week 72, had AUC of 0.753 to predict SVR during the follow-up. In conclusion, extended treatment with Peginterferon with or without NAs for patients with unsatisfactory response after 48 weeks of Peginterferon-based therapy is a promising strategy to achieve SVR, and quantitative serum HBsAg at week 48 and HBsAg level combined with HBeAg loss at week 72 of therapy can predict SVR to prolongation therapy with Peginterferon.