[Serum HBV-DNA level can predict treatment effectiveness in patients with chronic hepatitis B using interferon-alpha-2a].

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the efficacy of interferon-alpha-2a and the kinetics of viral load in serum.

Methods: The authors conducted a trial including 58 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Patients were treated with interferon-alpha-2a three times a week for 6 months. Viral kinetics were assessed by serial quantitive measurements of HBV-DNA.

Results: A significant decline of serum HBV-DNA was seen after interferon-alpha-2a administration for 1 month, the decreases were (2.50 +/- 0.44) log10, (1.62 +/- 1.12) log10 and (1.05 +/- 1.35) log10 for complete responders, partial responders and no-responders, respectively. After 1 month of treatment, HBV-DNA level was (3.99 +/- 0.91) log10 for complete responders versus (5.63 +/- 1.31) log10 for partial responders, and (6.69 +/- 1.42) log10 for no-responders (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis suggested that undetectable serum HBV-DNA after 1 month of interferon-alpha-2a treatment was associated with better efficacy; higher baseline ALT or/and no family history were also correlated with better treatment outcomes.

Conclusion: Kinetics of HBV-DNA level under interferon-alpha-2a treatment are highly predictive of therapeutic response.