Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia
IntroductionLow-level viremia (LLV) is associated with the progression of liver fibrosis and a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The present study aimed to compare the efficacy between nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) therapy and combination therapy of NAs...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1642961/full |
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| author | Lilin Wang Junfeng Lu Dan Liu Shan Ren Xinyue Chen Zhongjie Hu Sujun Zheng |
| author_facet | Lilin Wang Junfeng Lu Dan Liu Shan Ren Xinyue Chen Zhongjie Hu Sujun Zheng |
| author_sort | Lilin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionLow-level viremia (LLV) is associated with the progression of liver fibrosis and a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The present study aimed to compare the efficacy between nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) therapy and combination therapy of NAs and pegylated interferon-α (pegIFN-α) in entecavir (ETV)-treated CHB patients with LLV.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. ETV-treated CHB patients with LLV were included and divided into the NA group and the NA+IFN group. The NA group comprised patients switching to tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, whereas the NA+IFN group comprised those adding on pegIFN-α additionally. We compared changes in HBV markers and complete virological response (CVR) between the two groups.ResultsA total of 127 patients were enrolled, including 51 in NA+IFN group and 76 in NA group. In the NA+IFN group, the decline in HBsAg level from baseline (△ HBsAg) was significantly greater (−0.17 log10IU/mL vs. −0.06 log10IU/mL, P = 0.011) at week 24, and HBsAg clearance rate and △ HBsAg were significantly higher (8.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.017; −0.27 log10IU/mL vs. −0.11 log10IU/mL, P = 0.023) at week 48. The 48-week CVR rate in the NA+IFN group was 66.7% (34/51), which was comparable to 68.4% (52/76) in the NA group (P = 0.836).ConclusionIn ETV-treated patients with LLV, receiving NAs plus pegIFN-α tends to increase the effect of HBsAg clearance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c7976b8cbc7c438aad739dde66d2fc52 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-c7976b8cbc7c438aad739dde66d2fc522025-08-22T05:26:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16429611642961Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremiaLilin WangJunfeng LuDan LiuShan RenXinyue ChenZhongjie HuSujun ZhengIntroductionLow-level viremia (LLV) is associated with the progression of liver fibrosis and a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The present study aimed to compare the efficacy between nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) therapy and combination therapy of NAs and pegylated interferon-α (pegIFN-α) in entecavir (ETV)-treated CHB patients with LLV.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. ETV-treated CHB patients with LLV were included and divided into the NA group and the NA+IFN group. The NA group comprised patients switching to tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, whereas the NA+IFN group comprised those adding on pegIFN-α additionally. We compared changes in HBV markers and complete virological response (CVR) between the two groups.ResultsA total of 127 patients were enrolled, including 51 in NA+IFN group and 76 in NA group. In the NA+IFN group, the decline in HBsAg level from baseline (△ HBsAg) was significantly greater (−0.17 log10IU/mL vs. −0.06 log10IU/mL, P = 0.011) at week 24, and HBsAg clearance rate and △ HBsAg were significantly higher (8.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.017; −0.27 log10IU/mL vs. −0.11 log10IU/mL, P = 0.023) at week 48. The 48-week CVR rate in the NA+IFN group was 66.7% (34/51), which was comparable to 68.4% (52/76) in the NA group (P = 0.836).ConclusionIn ETV-treated patients with LLV, receiving NAs plus pegIFN-α tends to increase the effect of HBsAg clearance.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1642961/fulllow-level viremiachronic hepatitis Bpegylated interferon-αtenofovir alafenamide fumarateHBsAg clearance |
| spellingShingle | Lilin Wang Junfeng Lu Dan Liu Shan Ren Xinyue Chen Zhongjie Hu Sujun Zheng Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia Frontiers in Medicine low-level viremia chronic hepatitis B pegylated interferon-α tenofovir alafenamide fumarate HBsAg clearance |
| title | Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia |
| title_full | Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia |
| title_fullStr | Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia |
| title_short | Adding pegylated interferon-α to nucleos(t)ide analogs improves HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B with low-level viremia |
| title_sort | adding pegylated interferon α to nucleos t ide analogs improves hbsag clearance in chronic hepatitis b with low level viremia |
| topic | low-level viremia chronic hepatitis B pegylated interferon-α tenofovir alafenamide fumarate HBsAg clearance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1642961/full |
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