The efficacy and safety of peginterferon-α-2a in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B: A multicenter study conducted in a real clinical setting

Background/Aims: Genotype C is the principal type of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Koreans and is associated with poor prognosis for peginterferon ?-2a therapy. The efficacy of and compliance to peginterferon ?-2a therapy were investigated in Koreans with hepatitis B in a real clinical setting. Methods: Hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon ?-2a from 2008 to 2011 at four university hospitals were consecutively enrolled. Results: Eighty-eight patients were enrolled; 67 were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. The mean treatment period was 36.1±15.2 weeks. In 26.1% of patients, treatment was discontinued due to insufficient antiviral effects and adverse events. At 24 weeks after treatment, 10/42 (23.8%) HBeAg-positive patients achieved both HBV DNA suppression to <2,000 IU/mL and HBeAg loss/seroconversion. For HBeAg-negative patients, 10/13 (76.9%) achieved HBV DNA suppression to <2,000 IU/mL at 24 weeks after treatment. During the follow-up period, 15 (30.6%) of the 49 patients who achieved HBV DNA suppression to 2,000 IU/mL developed a breakthrough HBV DNA level of >2×106 IU/mL. Conclusions: Peginterferon ?-2a therapy in Koreans with hepatitis B in a real clinical setting resulted in a lower virologic response, as compared to Western individuals, but a favorable durability. There is a need to reduce the high rate of premature discontinuation compared to the controlled studies.