OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effects of Pegasys (pegylated interferon alpha-2a) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with low-level alanine transaminase (ALT) < 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN).

METHODSOne hundred and seven CHB patients were randomized enrolled including 52 with ALT < 2 x ULN and liver tissues inflammation activity > or = G2 as observational group and 55 with ALT > 2 x ULN as control group. All the enrolled patients received pegasys treatment for 48 weeks and the responses between two groups were compared. Measurement data were analyzed using t test and numeration data were analyzed using chi square test.

RESULTSThe reductions of HBV DNA in observational group at different time points were all less than control group (all P < 0.05). At the end of treatment, the HBV DNA negative rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate and HBsAg loss rate in the observational group were 51.9%, 48.8% and 1.9% , respectively, which were all lower than control group (67.3% , 66.7% and 7. 3% , respectivley) ( all P <0. 05). The ALT normalization rates of two groups were 75% and 76.4% (P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONPegasys is efficient for CHB patients with ALT < 2 x ULN and liver tissues inflammation activity > or = G2, while it is still inferior to those with ALT > 2 x ULN.