biostudies-literatureWoo HYMinistry of Science and ICTRoche Koreae0270716https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9307167biostudies-literatureUnknown17(7)<h4>Aims</h4>Induction of a durable viral response is difficult to achieve in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), even from long-term use of a nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA). This study investigated whether switching to peginterferon (PegIFN) alfa-2a after long-term NA therapy induced a durable viral response.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB who received any NA for at least 72 weeks and had a low level of HBV DNA (≤100 IU/mL) were randomized (1:1) to receive PegIFN alfa-2a (180 μg/week) or NA for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titer during antiviral therapy.<h4>Results</h4>We randomized 149 CHB patients to the two groups. Compared to baseline, the HBsAg levels in both groups were not lower at wePloS oneEffect of switching from nucleos(t)ide maintenance therapy to PegIFN alfa-2a in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: A randomized trial.PMC93071672021R1F1A1052110Chung WJPark JGLee YRHwang JSPark YJHeo JTak WYLee HJKweon YOPark SYWoo HYfalseEffect of switching from nucleos(t)ide maintenance therapy to PegIFN alfa-2a in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: A randomized trial.<h4>Aims</h4>Induction of a durable viral response is difficult to achieve in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), even from long-term use of a nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA). This study investigated whether switching to peginterferon (PegIFN) alfa-2a after long-term NA therapy induced a durable viral response.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB who received any NA for at least 72 weeks and had a low level of HBV DNA (≤100 IU/mL) were randomized (1:1) to receive PegIFN alfa-2a (180 μg/week) or NA for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titer during antiviral therapy.<h4>Results</h4>We randomized 149 CHB patients to the two groups. Compared to baseline, the HBsAg levels in both groups were not lower at we2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-05-09T16:53:39.614Z2022-08-07T23:45:09.736ZS-EPMC93071673586770210.1371/journal.pone.0270716