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  • Title: Response to interferon-alpha in chronic hepatitis B patients with and without precore mutant strain and effects on HBsAg titers.
    Author: Akhan SC, Yulugkural Z, Vahaboglu H.
    Journal: Chemotherapy; 2007; 53(6):402-6. PubMed ID: 17934260.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects 400 million people worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is known that HBV DNA sequences were detected after the clearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) often in serum, liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the previous measurements of HBsAg titers versus. quantitative hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and ALT measurements in order to predict the nonresponse and response in interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-treated HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic HBV patients. METHODS: We investigate whether the presence of precore mutant affects the response to IFN-alpha therapy and on the titer of HBsAg or not. Twenty-one HBeAg-positive (group 1), 38 HBeAg-negative (group 2), and 47 healthy inactive carriers (group 3) made up this study. Liver biopsy showed chronic hepatitis, there was no cirrhosis and none of the patients had IFN-alpha therapy before. RESULTS: The decrease in HBsAg titers was found as statistically not significant in groups 1 (p = 0.192) and 3 (p = 0.236) and statistically significant in group 2 (p = 0.0001) within a 6-month interval. CONCLUSION: HBsAg titer may be a factor to predict the primary responders and nonresponders specially in HBeAg-negative patients.
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