Comparison of adefovir dipivoxil and pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha 2a and adefovir dipivoxil treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: This study was performed on patients treated for chronic hepatitis B in the Infectious Disease Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University between 01.09.2005 and 31.03.2008. A total of 30 patients aged between 18 and 65 years constituted the study group. One of patient groups received (10 HBeAg negative, 4 HBeAg positive) PEG-IFN alpha 2a at a dose of 180 μg/once a week, whereas the other group (11 HBeAg negative, 5 HBeAg positive) received daily oral doses of 10 mg ADV. Treatment responses were evaluated at week 48. RESULTS: Reductions in serum HBV DNA levels at the end of 48 weeks were 4.8 log10 copy/ml and 4.2 log10 copy/ml in HBeAg negative patients who received ADV or PEG-IFN alpha 2a, respectively. Biochemical response rates were 60% and 91% in PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, respectively. Among HBeAg positive patients, reductions in serum HBV DNA levels were 3. 2 log10 copy/ml and 4 log10 copy/ml in ADV and PEG-IFN alpha 2a groups, at week 48, respectively. Biochemical response rates were 50% and 40% in PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, respectively. No significant difference was determined in biochemical and virological responses in HBeAg positive and negative patients between PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, at week 48. When both treatment groups were evaluated for side effects, it was observed that side effects were significantly common in PEG-IFN alpha 2a group. CONCLUSION: When we compared PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV treatment in both HBeAg positive and negative patients, biochemical and virological response rates at 48 weeks were similar.