Cytokine Profiles and Virological Marker Monitoring during 48 Weeks Peginterferon Alfa Treatment for HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B.

Ming Hui LI; Fang Fang Sun; Feng Xin Chen; Zhan Zeng; Yan Jie Lin; Xiao Yue BI; Liu Yang; Wen Deng; Ting Ting Jiang; Rong Hai Huang; Wei YI; Yao Xie

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Cytokine Profiles and Virological Marker Monitoring during 48 Weeks Peginterferon Alfa Treatment for HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B.

Author: Ming Hui LI ^{1
,

2} ; Fang Fang SUN ³ ; Feng Xin CHEN ⁴ ; Zhan ZENG ² ; Yan Jie LIN ² ; Xiao Yue BI ⁵ ; Liu YANG ⁵ ; Wen DENG ⁵ ; Ting Ting JIANG ⁵ ; Rong Hai HUANG ⁶ ; Wei YI ⁷ ; Yao XIE ^{1
,

2}
Author Information

1. Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
2. Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100015, China.
3. Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China.
5. Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China.
6. Department of General Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China.
7. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Cytokine; HBeAg; HBsAg; Peginterferon
MeSH: Biomarkers; Cytokines; DNA, Viral; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy*; Humans; Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use*; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use*
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2022;35(4):312-321
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Objective:This study aimed to investigate whether cytokine profiles and virological markers might add value in monitoring the effects of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) therapy for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
Methods:HBeAg positive patients with CHB were treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Clinical biochemical, and HBV serological indexes, as well as cytokines, were detected at baseline and every 12 weeks.
Results:A total of 116 patients with CHB were enrolled in this study; 100 patients completed the 48-week treatment and follow-up, of whom 38 achieved serum HBeAg disappearance, 25 achieved HBeAg seroconversion, 37 showed HBsAg decreases ≥ 1 log ₁₀ IU/mL, 9 showed HBsAg disappearance, and 8 became HBsAb positive. The cytokine levels at baseline and during treatment were similar between the HBeAg disappearance group and non-disappearance group. The disappearance of HBeAg was independently associated with HBeAg levels at weeks 12 and 24, and with the HBeAg decline at week 24 ( P < 0.05). The HBsAg response was independently associated with HBsAg, the HBsAg decline, HBeAg, the HBeAg decline at week 12, and HBsAg at week 24 ( P< 0.05).
Conclusion:There was no significant correlation between the response to interferon (IFN) and cytokines during PEG-IFN treatment. The changes in virological markers predicted the response to IFN after 48 weeks.