Treatment of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B with pegylated interferon

Serum HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, which is usually a late stage of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, is difficult to treat, because it is characterized by fluctuating alanine transaminase values resulting in hepatitis flares, accelerated progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Antiviral treatment, either long-term nucleot(s)ide therapy or 1-year administration of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN), is therefore necessary to limit the course of the disease. A sustained virological response to PEG-IFN is achieved in approximately 1/4 of the patients, with significant rates of HBsAg seroclearance. While waiting for the results of several studies whose goal is to improve the long-term efficacy of PEG-IFN, the treatment strategy can be optimized by a careful selection of patients, discontinuation of PEG-IFN as early as possible in primary non-responders and extended therapy (up to 96 weeks) in responders