Clinical study of the efficacy of interferon-α therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients

Objective To investigate the effect of IFN-α therapy for HBeAg-negative ehronie hepatitis B(CHB). Methods 50 cases of HBeAg-negative CHB patients were selected as treated group, while 52 cases of HBeAg-positive CHB as control group. Both groups received injection of IFN-α at dose of 6 MU every other day for 48 weeks. Levels of alanine aminotransferase, viral markers levels of HBeAg, HBV DNA and the four serum fibrosis markers were analysed before and after treatment and 24 weeks after the course. Results There were 36 cases in treated group and 26 cases in control group who had got obvious therapeutic effects at the end of 24 weeks after treatment. And the rates of efficacy were 72% and 50% separately. The rate of treated group was higher than that of control group(X2 = 5.43, P <0.05). The four serum fibrosis markers of the both groups were clearly dropped after treatment (t = 2.365, P < 0.05). Conclusions The theraputie effects of IFN-α at dose of 6 MU for HBeAg-negative CHB is prior to HBeAg-positive CHB. And IFN-α also have an evident funtion on preventing or delaying hepatic fibrosis in patients with CHB. Key words: Hepatitis B, chronic;  HBeAg-negative;  Interferon;  Liver fibrosis