Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9270354 | Journal of Infection | 2005 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
This study was to evaluate responsiveness to IFN-α and investigate the benefits of sustained response (SR) in patients who were presumed as being vertically transmitted in Korea. A total of 46 patients of presumed vertical transmission with biopsy-proven HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection were treated with IFN-α and followed. We tried to find the factors associated with SR and compared the cumulative rate of HCC and survival between SR group and non-sustained/non-responder (NSR) group. HBeAg loss was acquired in 35% (16/46) within a year but SR was observed in 22% (10/46). Age <35 years and ALT levels >7ÃULN were significant favorable factors for SR (OR 0.56, 0.49, 95%CI 0.38-0.82, 0.29-0.81, respectively) (both P<0.05). There were no significant differences of cumulative HCC-free survival (100 vs. 68% at 12 years, P=0.36) and survival (100 vs. 73% at 12 years, P=0.3) between SR group and NSR group. In conclusion, age below 35 years old and serum ALT levels above 7ÃULN may predict IFN-α therapy-induced SR among them, although we cannot affirm the effects on HCC prevention or survival.
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Authors
Myoung Kuk Jang, Dae Ro Choi, Ja Young Lee, Han Kook Moon, Jun Ho Lee, Seong Man Kim, Kyung Ho Kim, Joon Yong Park, Jin Heon Lee, Hak Yang Kim, Dong Joon Kim, Myung Seok Lee, Choong Kee Park, Jae Young Yoo,