The retrospective evaluation of the efficiency of the treatment with Pegylated Interferon in patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

İntraduction and AimIn our study, we aimed to compare the viral supression rates in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection who have used pegylated interferons retrospectively.Material and MethodsWe included 35 patients with chronic hepatitis B infection who have used pegylated interferons in our study. We investigated age, gender, HBeAg positivity and ALT levels. We compared the levels of HBV-DNA at the beginnig, at the 1st, 3rd and 6th months.FindingsAs the levels of HBV-DNA prior to the treatment and at the 1st, 3rd and 6th months of the treatment were compared in patients who have received pegylated interferons, these was a statistically significant difference between the decline rates of HBV-DNA. The maximum HBV-DNA decline occurred at the end of the 1st month. ALT normalisation of HBeAg positive and negative patients at the 6th month of the treatment was found to be 63% and 70%, respectively. When the levels of HBV-DNA prior to the treatment and at the 1st, 3rd and 6th months of the treatment in HBeAg positive and negative patients who have received pegylated interferons were compared; no significant difference was found HBV-DNA levels between HBeAg positive and negative patients, prior to and at the 1st and 3rd months of the treatment.There was a significant difference between the HBV-DNA levels of HBeAg positive and negative patients at the 6th month of the treatment. Viral supression was detected in 60% of all patients. Viral supression was achieved in 36.36% of HBeAg positive and in 70.8% of HBeAg negative patients.ConclusionA higher rate of viral supression and ALT normalisation was achieved in HBeAg negative patients in contrast with HBeAg positive patients all of whom received pegylated interferon treatment. As the smaller number of patients included in the study is taken into account, it?s needed to have longer and serial trials which includes more cases.Key wordsChronic hepatitis B, pegylated interferon, normalisation of ALT, HBV DNA levels.