Long-term efficacy of interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Japan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Few studies have investigated the long-term effects of interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In this retrospective study, we investigated the efficacy of and predictors of response to IFN therapy in CHB patients.

METHODS:

We analyzed data for 615 Japanese CHB patients (hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]-positive 414, HBeAg-negative 201) treated with IFN, and conducted follow up for a median duration of 8.1 years (range 0.5-23.2). Responders were defined as patients who showed continuously normalized alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, HBeAg clearance, and low hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels at 6 months post-treatment or for a span of more than 6 months until each test point at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years.

RESULTS:

The IFN response rates of all patients were 21, 18, 21, 23, and 25% at 6 months and 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. On multivariate analysis, significant determinants of the outcome of IFN therapy were as follows: at 6 months and 1 year, young age, low HBV DNA levels, and long duration of treatment; at 3 years, long duration of treatment, young age, and high level of albumin; at 5 years, high level of albumin, female, and pretreated with IFN; and at 10 years, HBeAg-negative. Sixty-nine of the 615 patients (11%) achieved seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). On multivariate analysis, age ≥30 years, HBV genotype A, and male were all independent factors predicting the achievement of HBsAg seroclearance.

CONCLUSION:

HBeAg, HBV DNA level, age, sex, albumin, duration of treatment, pretreatment with IFN, and HBV genotype were important factors in determining long-term response to IFN therapy.

• Authors: Fumitaka Suzuki, Yasuji Arase, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Norio Akuta, Hitomi Sezaki, Yuya Seko, Yusuke Kawamura, Tetsuya Hosaka, Masahiro Kobayashi, Satoshi Saito, Kenji Ikeda, Mariko Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Kumada
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology (J Gastroenterol) Vol. 47 Issue 7 Pg. 814-22 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1435-5922 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 22361865 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Interferon-alpha
• Interferon-beta

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• DNA, Viral
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Genotype
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy, virology)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Interferon-beta (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Japan
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Retrospective Studies
• Sex Factors
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult