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Long-Term Results of Interferon Alpha Monotherapy in Patients with HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B

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Abstract

We sought to evaluate the long-term results of interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B. Eighty HBeAg-negative naive patients (62 men; mean age, 39.9 years) who received IFN-α for 6 months were studied. Alanine aminotransferase normalization with undetectable HBV-DNA by molecular hybridization was accepted as response. All patients but 1 were precirrhotic stage. At the end of treatment, 44 (55%) patients responded, and they were followed for a mean of 59.5 months (range, 18–132). Twenty-seven patients (61.4%) showed recurrence (63% in first year). Responses at 6 months and at the end of the follow-up period 42.5% and 30% (including 7 patients without end treatment response), respectively. Recurrence of HBV replication was not detected after the 2-years follow-up period. Histologic improvement was observed in 83.3% patients with end-of-follow-up response. HBsAg became negative in 4 patients (5%). On multivariate analysis, younger age (P=.04) and lower GGT level (P=.037) were independent factors for prediction of end-of-follow-up response. Nearly half of the patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B responds to IFN-α at the end of therapy. Despite the high recurrence rates, response continues in about one third of patients after a mean of 59.5 months.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Capa, 34390, Istanbul, Turkey

    Sabahattin Kaymakoglu, Ahmet Danalioglu, Kadir Demir, Cetin Karaca, Filiz Akyuz, Fatih Besisik, Yilmaz Cakaloglu & Atilla Okten

  2. Department of Microbiology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Derya Onel & Selim Badur

  3. Department of Pathology, İstanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ugur Cevikbas

Authors
  1. Sabahattin Kaymakoglu
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  2. Ahmet Danalioglu
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  3. Kadir Demir
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  4. Cetin Karaca
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  7. Selim Badur
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  9. Fatih Besisik
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  10. Yilmaz Cakaloglu
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Correspondence to Sabahattin Kaymakoglu.

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Kaymakoglu, S., Danalioglu, A., Demir, K. et al. Long-Term Results of Interferon Alpha Monotherapy in Patients with HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B. Dig Dis Sci 52, 727–731 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9445-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9445-1

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