Pegylated interferon Alfa-2b monotherapy and pegylated interferon Alfa-2b plus lamivudine combination therapy for patients with hepatitis B virus E antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Author(s): Kaymakoglu S, Oguz D, Gur G, Gurel S, Tankurt E, Ersoz G, Ozenirler S, Kalayci C, Poturoglu S, Cakaloglu Y, Okten A

Affiliation(s): Istanbul University, Department of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Capa, Istanbul, Turkey. kaymakoglus@hotmail.com

Publication date & source: 2007-08, Antimicrob Agents Chemother., 51(8):3020-2. Epub 2007 May 21.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

Forty-eight hepatitis B virus (HBV) E antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B patients received pegylated interferon alfa-2b either alone or with lamivudine for 48 weeks and were followed for an additional 24 weeks. At the end of follow-up, virological response rates (HBV DNA levels of <400 copies/ml) were similar in the monotherapy (24%) and combination therapy (26%) groups.