Preliminary report on safety and response rate of pegylated interferon- alpha 2a (pegasys) in genotype D chronic hepatitis B patients in Iran

Aim: The aim of study was to determine the preliminary result of treatment with pegasys in Iranian chronic hepatitis B patients (with genotype D) referred to Tehran Hepatitis center (THC). Background: The genotype of HBV and ethnicity of the patients can affect the response rate to pegasys. Patients and methods: During 2006-2008, 12 Patients with naïve chronic hepatitis B (genotype D) that referred to THC and candidate for treatment were consequently enrolled in this cross sectional study. All of the patients signed the written consent to enter the study. They were treated weekly with 180 microgram of pegylated interferon- alpha 2a (pegasys) subcutaneously. They were visited monthly during their treatment and follow up course in THC. The safety oftreatment, the end of treatment response, the relapse rate and the sustained virologic response were measured in these patients. Results: The end of treatment response rate was 83.3% in total. In patients who had end treatment response, the relapse rate was 50% (4/8) among HBeAg negative patients and 75% (3/4) among HBeAg positive patients. The sustained virologic response rate in this study was 41.6%. Conclusion: Our study showed that after treatment with pegasys, the genotype D chronic hepatitis B patients had an acceptable sustained virologic response rate (More than 30%). But the influence of HBV genotype on treatment response with pegasys needs to be reevaluated in these patients in future studies. In addition other patient-specific characteristics like genetic aspects should be taken into consideration.