This study aims to explore the efficacy of
interferon-α (IFN-α) combined with either
entecavir (ETV) or
adefovir (ADV)
therapy versus IFN-α mono-
therapy for
chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and to identify the factors associated with treatment outcomes. Totally, 159 CHB patients receiving
interferon-based treatment for 48 weeks were enrolled in this retrospective study, including IFN-α mono-therapy group (group A, n=44), IFN-α plus ADV group (group B, n=53) and IFN-α plus ETV group (group C, n=62). The primary measures of efficacy assessments were the changes in
HBsAg. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of treatment outcomes. The predictive values of the factors were assessed by ROC analysis. For patients with baseline
hepatitis B surface antigen (
HBsAg) level <1000 IU/mL, the reductions in mean
HBsAg levels at week 48 were greater in group C than that in group A (P<0.05). Higher rate of
HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in the combined therapy group than in IFN-α mono-therapy group at week 48 (P<0.05). Two factors were independently associated with
HBeAg seroconversion: baseline
HBeAg level <2.215 log10 index/mL and ΔHBeAg (decline in
HBeAg from baseline) >0.175 log10 at week 12. In conclusion,
interferon-α plus ETV
therapy can accelerate
HBsAg decline as compared with
interferon-α mono-
therapy in CHB patients with lower baseline
HBsAg levels, and the combination
therapy was superior to IFN-α mono-
therapy in increasing the rate of
HBeAg seroconversion. Baseline
HBeAg and ΔHBeAg at week 12 can independently predict
HBeAg seroconversion in patients subject to
interferon-based
therapy for 48 weeks.