The effect of peginterferon alpha-2a vs. interferon alpha-2a on intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients

Abstract

The covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), as the template of HBV transcription, plays a key role in the virus infection. The present study aimed to compare the effect of pegylated interferon (IFN)-α-2a with that of conventional IFN-α-2a on intrahepatic covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Seventy-six HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=38): group A was treated with interferon alpha-2a (IFN-α-2a) and group B was treated with peginterferon alpha-2a (peg IFN-α-2a). The intrahepatic level of cccDNA and its detection rate, levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in liver and serum, histologic inflammation and some biochemistry parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels) were measured. The outcome of 48 weeks therapy showed that the mean level of intrahepatic HBV cccDNA level and its detection rate, the levels of HBV DNA and the histology and biochemistry parameters were significantly decreased following therapy in two groups (P<0.05). While, the reductions in the group treated with peg IFN-α-2a were greater (P<0.05). It may be concluded that the ability of the peg IFN-α-2a to clear and suppress cccDNA and HBV DNA was superior compared with that of conventional IFN-α-2a. Furthermore, the effects of peg IFN-α-2a on histology and biochemistry parameters were also more obvious than conventional IFN-α-2a.