Early response to interferon α treatment and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with chronic HBV genotype C infection

  • Authors:
    • Yasushi Seo
    • Seitetsu Yoon
    • Kenichi Hamano
    • Miyuki Nakaji
    • Yoshihiko Yano
    • Megumi Katayama
    • Toshiaki Ninomiya
    • Yoshitake Hayashi
    • Masato Kasuga
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 1, 2004     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.13.1.75
  • Pages: 75-79
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Abstract

Genotype C of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been shown to be associated with a poor clinical outcome and less favorable response to interferon (IFN) α therapy compared to genotype B. We evaluated the response to IFN α therapy and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with chronic active HBV genotype C infection. Thirty Japanese patients with chronic active hepatitis who received natural IFN α therapy were followed for 2-12 years (mean 5.9 years). Twenty-four patients were treated short-term (daily for 4 weeks at a mean total dosage of 174 million units) and 6 patients were treated long-term (total of 26 weeks at a mean total dosage of 687 million units). Twelve of 30 (40%) patients had an antiviral response at 6 months after therapy. Clinical data before treatment in both responders and non-responders were comparable. Although not significant, responders tended to have younger age, a higher serum transaminase level, a lower frequency of precore mutation (G1896A) (67% vs. 92%) and a higher frequency of core promoter mutation (A1762T/G1764A) (89% vs. 58%) than non-responders. The patients treated long-term responded significantly better than those treated short-term (83% vs. 29%, P=0.026). Up to 12 years after therapy, a higher percentage of responders than non-responders had sustained clearance of HBeAg with seroconversion and normalization of transaminase concentration at the followed end point (83% vs. 17%, P<0.001). Two non-responder patients had cirrhosis after long-term follow-up. One non-responder patient died of hepatocellular carcinoma 8 years after IFN therapy; except in this patient there was no development of decompensated cirrhosis. Early responsiveness to IFN α therapy in Japanese patients with chronic active HBV genotype C infection improves the long-term clinical outcome.

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January 2004
Volume 13 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Seo Y, Yoon S, Hamano K, Nakaji M, Yano Y, Katayama M, Ninomiya T, Hayashi Y and Kasuga M: Early response to interferon α treatment and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with chronic HBV genotype C infection. Int J Mol Med 13: 75-79, 2004
APA
Seo, Y., Yoon, S., Hamano, K., Nakaji, M., Yano, Y., Katayama, M. ... Kasuga, M. (2004). Early response to interferon α treatment and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with chronic HBV genotype C infection. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 13, 75-79. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.13.1.75
MLA
Seo, Y., Yoon, S., Hamano, K., Nakaji, M., Yano, Y., Katayama, M., Ninomiya, T., Hayashi, Y., Kasuga, M."Early response to interferon α treatment and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with chronic HBV genotype C infection". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 13.1 (2004): 75-79.
Chicago
Seo, Y., Yoon, S., Hamano, K., Nakaji, M., Yano, Y., Katayama, M., Ninomiya, T., Hayashi, Y., Kasuga, M."Early response to interferon α treatment and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with chronic HBV genotype C infection". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 13, no. 1 (2004): 75-79. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.13.1.75