Extended treatment with peginterferon α‐2a in combination with lamivudine or adefovir for 96 weeks yields high rates of HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon α-2a (PEG IFNα-2a) in combination with lamivudine or adefovir in the treatment of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In total, 47 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB received either PEG IFNα-2a (135 μg once weekly) plus lamivudine (100 mg daily) or adefovir (10 mg daily). All patients completed 96 weeks of therapy and were followed up for a further 24 weeks. Baseline characteristics and treatment efficacy of the two groups were similar. All patients achieved hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA <500 copies/mL at 96 weeks, and none had a virological rebound after stopping the therapy. The rate of HBeAg seroconversion was 46.8% at 48 weeks, increased to 74.5% at 96 weeks, and kept at 72.3% at 120 weeks. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion rate was 6.4% at 48 weeks, increased to 21.3% at 96 weeks, and kept at 27.7% at 120 weeks. Extended treatment with PEG IFNα-2a with lamivudine or adefovir for 96 weeks is a promising strategy to achieve high rates of sustainable HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion and HBV DNA suppression in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB.