Pegylated-interferon alpha therapy for treatment-experienced chronic hepatitis B patients

Background Studies are limited on pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who failed or relapsed on previous antiviral therapy. Objectives We aimed to investigate the effect of Peg-IFN therapy in treatment-experienced CHB patients. Study Design A total of 57 treatment-experienced CHB patients at two medical centers were enrolled. All of the patients were treated with Peg-IFN α-2a at 180 μg weekly for 24 or 48 weeks. The hepatitis B serological markers and viral loads were tested every 3 months until 1 year after stopping Peg-IFN therapy. The endpoints were HBV DNA 2 log10 IU/mL at 12 weeks of therapy were factors associated with treatment response. In HBeAg-negative patients, 9.1%, 15.2%, and 6.1% of the patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA, HBV DNA