Tamai Hideyuki, Ida Yoshiyuki, Shingaki Naoki, Shimizu Ryo, Fukatsu Kazuhiro, Itonaga Masahiro, Yoshida Takeichi, Maeda Yoshimasa, Moribata Kosaku, Maekita Takao, Iguchi Mikitaka, Kato Jun, Kitano Masayuki
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan.
Hepat Res Treat. 2017;2017:2093847. doi: 10.1155/2017/2093847. Epub 2017 Apr 11.
Entecavir requires long-term administration. Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy leads to significant reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) levels. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of adding PEG-IFN--2a to entecavir toward cessation of entecavir. A total of 23 patients treated with entecavir underwent add-on PEG-IFN--2a therapy (90 g per week) for 48 weeks. Viral response (VR) was defined as more than 50% reduction of baseline hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) level at 72 weeks from the start of therapy. Complete response (CR) was defined as the decline of HBs Ag levels <100 IU/mL. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBe Ag) seroconversion rate was 25% (2/8), and VR rate was 52% (12/23). CR was observed in four patients (17%). However, CR rate in baseline HBs Ag level <2000 IU/mL and HBe Ag negative patients was 50% (4/8). Univariate analysis showed that the percentage of HBs Ag level reduction at week 12 was significantly associated with VR. The area under the curve value was 0.848. Adding PEG-IFN--2a to entecavir has limited efficacy. The percentage reduction of HBs Ag level at week 12 may be a useful predictor for VR.