— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
Adding 24 weeks of pegylated interferon (Pegasys) to ongoing entecavir treatment proved markedly more effective in spurring loss of HBeAg and reducing viral load than treating patients with only entecavir, according to a report by Dutch researchers published in the October issue of Hepatology.
In the study, 85 patients had 24 weeks of interferon added to their ongoing entecavir treatment between weeks 24 through 48. Another group of 90 patients received only entecavir over the same time period. Those who lost HBeAg and achieved undetectable viral load stopped treatment after 72 weeks and were followed for 24 more weeks.
Researchers reported that the interferon add-on approach produced better results, and 11 (13%) of patients in the add-on group maintained undetectable viral load even after treatment ended, compared to a 2% success rate in the entecavir-only group.
"Add-on (interferon) therapy resulted in more viral decline and appeared to prevent relapse after stopping entecavir," researchers wrote. "Hence pegylated interferon add-on therapy may facilitate the discontinuation of (antivirals)."
Labels: add-on therapy, HBeAg-positive, Pegasys
