Virodynamic predictors of response to pegylated interferon and lamivudine combination treatment of hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract Early identification of non-responders to interferon-alpha and development of stopping rules are needed in patients with chronic hepatitis B to reduce treatment-related costs and morbidity. In total, 47 patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B received pegylated interferon-alpha2b for 8 weeks, lamivudine plus pegylated interferon-alpha2b combination therapy for 24 weeks and lamivudine monotherapy for 28 weeks. Sustained virological response was defined as HBeAg seroconversion and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA or = 0.005 per day (negative predictive value [NPV] 100% and positive predictive value [PPV] 33.3%) and log values of the area under the mathematically predicted HBV DNA curve between baseline and week 12 of therapy