Pegylated interferon alfa-2B for chronic delta hepatitis: 12 versus 24 months.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2b for short (one year) and long (two years) terms of treatment for chronic hepatitis D.

METHODOLOGY:

Eighteen patients with chronic hepatitis D were administered PEG-IFN alfa-2b 1.5μg/kg twice weekly for 1 month, after which they were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive PEG-IFN alfa-2b 1.5μg/kg/wk for an additional 23 months (n=11; group 1) or 11 months (n=7; group 2). All patients were followed-up for 6 months after completing therapy.

RESULTS:

In group 1, there was no significant difference between HDV-RNA and ALT levels at follow-up compared with baseline (p=0.219 and p=0.624, respectively). However, in group 2, HDVRNA levels, but not ALT levels, were significantly lower at the end of follow-up (EOF) than at baseline (p=0.016 and p=0.237, respectively). Three patients, all in group 2, had undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at the end of followup (EOF). However, there was no patient who had undetectable HBsAg in group I (p=0.043). There were statistical differences for all 18 patients in terms of baseline levels of HDV-RNA compared to end of treatment (EOT) (p=0.021) and EOF (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS:

Extending therapy from 12 to 24 months conferred no additional advantage in terms of HDV-RNA suppression and ALT normalisation.

• Authors: Necati Ormeci, Füsun Bölükbaş, Esra Erden, Sahin Coban, Fuat Ekiz, Hakan Erdem, Murat Palabıyıkoğlu, Ali Reşit Beyler, Ismail Balık, Cengiz Bölükbaş, Yaşar Nazlıgül, Seyfettin Köklü
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 2011 Sep-Oct Vol. 58 Issue 110-111 Pg. 1648-53 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 22086695 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• peginterferon alfa-2b

Topics

• Adult
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hepatitis D, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Liver Function Tests
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyethylene Glycols (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Recombinant Proteins (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome