Serum hepatitis B virus RNA levels as a predictor of HBeAg seroconversion during treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion represents an endpoint of treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. METHODS:We have studied whether levels of serum hepatitis B virus ribonucleic acid (HBV RNA) during pegylated interferon alfa-2a treatment might be helpful for predicting HBeAg seroconversion. 61 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2a alone or in combination with adefovir (10?mg/day) for 48?weeks were included in this retrospective analysis. Response was defined as HBeAg seroconversion at 24?weeks posttreatment. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to identify baseline and on-treatment HBV RNA levels associated with response. RESULTS:Twenty-two of 61 (36.1%) patients achieved a response. Baseline HBV RNA levels were lower in responders than in nonresponders (4.55?±?1.19 and 5.90?±?1.13 copies/mL, respectively, P =?0.001). Baseline HBV RNA cut off level (200,000 copies/mL) provided a positive predictive value (PPV) of 56.0% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 77.8%. HBV RNA level (3000 copies/mL) at week 12 provide a PPV of 75.0% and a NPV of 82.8%. Moreover, HBeAg seroconversion rates at 24?weeks posttreatment were significantly higher in patients with HBV RNA ? 200,000 copies/mL at baseline and HBV RNA???3000 copies/mL at week 12 (92.9%) versus others (12.5%) (All P 

SUBMITTER: Jia W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6505123 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature