Effect of peginterferonα-2a on hepatitis B virus replication and liver fibrosis indexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of peginterferonα-2a on viral suppression and anti-fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Method The patients in treatment group(30 cases) were administered with peginterferonα-2a 180μg subcutaneously,one time per week for 48 weeks. The patients in control group(42 cases)were administered with conventional interferonα-2a 5.0 MU subcutaneously,every other day for 48 weeks.All the patients were followed up for 72 weeks after discontinuation of the medication.The serum HBV DNA load was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)assay.Serum liver fibrosis indexes were measured by radioimmunoassay.Nine patients in treatment group were performed liver biopsy before and after the treatment.Results At the end of treatment and the end of 72-week follow-up period,the serum HBeAg titer and HBV DNA level in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group.The rates of HBeAg loss,seroconversion and HBV DNA undetectability were 58.6%,51.7%,48.3% and 51.7%, 44.8%,41.4%,respectively at the end of treatment and the end of 72-week follow-up period,which were significantly higher than those in control group.Three patients achieved HBsAg loss at the end of follow up period,and none in control group.Eight and six patients of nine who were checked liver biopsy pathology in treatment group were HBsAg and HBcAg positive in liver tissue before treat merit,respectively,and two and three were HBsAg and HBcAg positive after treatment,respective ly.There were no differences of liver inflammation grade(G)fibrosis stages(S)and collagen expres- sion after treatment(P0.05).At the end of treatment and 72-week follow-up period,the serum hexadecenoicacid(HA),laminin(I.N),typeⅣcollagen(ⅣC)and typeⅢpre collagen peptide(PⅢP)levels of patients in treatment group were improved obviously,which were significantly lower than those in control group at the end of 72-week follow-up period.Conclusion Peginterferonα-2a could continuously and effectively inhibit HBV DNA replication and improve serum liver fibrosis indexes.