Response-guided peginterferon therapy for hbeag-positive and hbeag-negative chronic hepatitis b using hepatitis b surface antigen levels: A review

Hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBsAg) is the hallmark of HBV infection. Serum levels of HBsAg appear to reflect the degree of immune control over the virus: lower levels signify a higher level of immune control. One year of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) therapy results in a decline of HBsAg in serum that is sustained off-treatment. Patients who achieve a sustained virological response to PEG-IFN have more pronounced on-treatment HBsAg decline. HBsAg levels during therapy can be used to predict the chance of treatment success. Among HBeAg-positive patients, the probability of response is extremely low in patients with HBsAg levels >20,000 IU/mL at week 24 of treatment and therapy discontinuation is indicated. Similarly, therapy cessation is indicated in HBeAg-negative patients without HBsAg decline at week 12 if HBV DNA has not been reduced by at least 2 log IU/mL.

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