Korean J Hepatol > Volume 5(1); 1999 > Article
The Korean Journal of Hepatology 1999;5(1): 12-21.
만성 B형 간염환자에서 인터페론 치료후 장기적 관찰 ( Long-term Follow-up of Patients Treated with Interferon Alfa for Chronic Hepatitis B )
Long-term Follow-up of Patients Treated with Interferon Alfa for Chronic Hepatitis B
Jong Eun Yeon, M.D., Yeon Seok Seo, M.D., Yoon Hong Kim, M.D., Sang Hoon Park, M.D., Oh Sang Kwon, M.D., Kwan Soo Byun, M.D., and Chang Hong Lee, M.D.
Department of Internal Medicine Korea University College of M edicine, Seoul, Korea
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims
: Several randomized controlled studies have shown that responders who had treated with interferon alpha for chronic hepatitis B had better rate of sustained loss of HBeAg and HBV DNA than non-responders. These studies also showed that non-responders had higher rates of liver related complication and mortality. But there is very little data on how well sustained responders are and whether the responders eventually lose HBsAg in Korea. The aims of this study were to better define the long term remission of chronic hepatitis B induced by interferon alfa therapy and compare the clinical outcome among the interferon responders and non-responders in Korea. Methods : Sixty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated with interferon alfa between 1987 and 1998 were followed up for serologic status (HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA), biochemical tests and liver related complication or mortality. Results : Among 68 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated with interferon alfa, 28 (41%) responded to treatment with loss of HBeAg within 1 year of starting treatment. Up to 129 months (mean 58 months) after therapy, responders had higher rate of cumulative clearance of HBeAg at five years than non-responders (100% vs 35.1%, p<0.05). Responders had maintained the normal serum ALT than nonresponders at five years (94% vs 55.6%, p<0.05). Loss of HBsAg was not different between responders and non-responders (5% vs 4%, NS). The rates of liver related complication and mortality did not differ between both groups. Delayed clearance of HBeAg occured in twelve out of forty non-responders (30%). There were no differences in age, baseline ALT, histologic finding of liver biopsy, HBV DNA at the end of first year after study with IFN therapy between the non-responders with and without delayed clearance of HBeAg. Conclusion : Remission in chronic hepatitis B induced by alfa interferon maintained in long duration. But clinical outcomes such as liver related complication, mortality and the elimination of HBV infection have no differences between responders and non-responders. Further studies are needed for the role of interferon therapy in long-term clinical outcome for chronic hepatitis B. (Korean J Hepatol 1999;5:12-21)
KeyWords: Chronic hepatitis B, Interferon alfa, Long- term follow- up

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