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Response-guided Peginterferon Therapy for HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B using Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels: A Review

  • Hepatitis B (P Martin and P Lampertico, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBsAg) is the hallmark of HBV infection. Serum levels of HBsAg appear to reflect the degree of immune control over the virus: lower levels signify a higher level of immune control. One year of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) therapy results in a decline of HBsAg in serum that is sustained off-treatment. Patients who achieve a sustained virological response to PEG-IFN have more pronounced on-treatment HBsAg decline. HBsAg levels during therapy can be used to predict the chance of treatment success. Among HBeAg-positive patients, the probability of response is extremely low in patients with HBsAg levels >20,000 IU/mL at week 24 of treatment and therapy discontinuation is indicated. Similarly, therapy cessation is indicated in HBeAg-negative patients without HBsAg decline at week 12 if HBV DNA has not been reduced by at least 2 log IU/mL.

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Conflict of Interest

Harry L.A. Janssen received grants from and is a consultant for: Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Novartis, Roche, Schering Plough. Milan Sonneveld has received speaker’s fees from Roche and BMS. Willem P. Brouwer declares no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Milan J. Sonneveld, Willem P. Brouwer & Harry L. A. Janssen

  2. Toronto Center for Liver Disease, Toronto Western and General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

    Harry L. A. Janssen

  3. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Harry L. A. Janssen

  4. Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Harry L. A. Janssen

  5. Division of Gastroenterology, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, 6B FP, Room 164, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada

    Harry L. A. Janssen

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  1. Milan J. Sonneveld
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  2. Willem P. Brouwer
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  3. Harry L. A. Janssen
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Correspondence to Harry L. A. Janssen.

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Sonneveld, M.J., Brouwer, W.P. & Janssen, H.L.A. Response-guided Peginterferon Therapy for HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B using Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels: A Review. Curr Hepatology Rep 13, 250–255 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-014-0239-1

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