Clinical observation of the combined treatment with pegylated interferon α-2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with HBsAg < 1 500 IU/mL

ObjectiveTo compare the differences of HBsAg clearance between pegylated interferon α-2b(Peg-IFNα-2b) combinated with nucleoside(acid) analogue(NAs) therapy and NAs monotherapy in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients with HBsAg<1 500 IU/mL after treatment with NAs.

MethodsAmong 55 patients with HBsAg<1 500 IU/mL after NAs treatment, the patients treated with NAs combined with Peg-IFNα-2b, and patients treated with NAs were divided into the combination treatment group and NAs treatment group, respectively, and two groups were treated for 48 weeks.The HBsAg clearance rate and related factors influencing the clearance rate of HBsAg in two groups were observed.

ResultsAfter 48 weeks of treatment, the HBsAg clearance rate in combination treatment group was significantly higher than that in NAs treatment group(P<0.01).The HBsAg levels in two groups gradually decreased with the increasing of medication time, and the reduction in combination treatment group was higher than that in NAs treatment group(P<0.05).The baseline HBsAg<327 IU/mL has a predictive effect on the clearance of HBsAg at the end of the 48-week treatment course(P<0.05).The AUC, cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were 0.828, 327 IU/mL, 75.0% and 87.5%, respectively.The HBsAg clearance rate of patients with abnormal baseline alanine aminotransferase(ALT) was significantly higher than patients with normal ALT(P<0.01).

ConclusionsThe treatment of NAs combined with Peg-IFNα-2b in pateints with low serum level of HBsAg can improve the HBsAg clearance rate.The baseline HBsAg<327 IU/mL has a predictive effect on the clearance of HBsAg at the end of 48 weeks treatment, and the HBsAg clearance is more likely to be achieved with baseline ALT levels above the upper normal limit.