Predictive Value of Serum pgRNA on HBeAg Clearance in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B with Low HBeAg Levels Treated with Pegylated Interferon

Abstract

Objective: To study the predictive value of serum pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) on HBeAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B with low HBeAg levels during pegylated interferon therapy. Methods: Twenty chronic hepatitis B patients with HBeAg positive and quantitative <50S/CO were selected for this study. The subjects underwent pegylated interferon therapy for 48–96 weeks and were followed up in the outpatient clinic after treatment. The patients were then divided into groups based on whether their HbeAg turned negative. The predictive ability of each indicator for HBeAg negative conversion was evaluated in the HBeAg negative group and the HBeAg positive group. Results: The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that pgRNA and HBcrAg were better indicators for predicting the clearance of HBeAg after treatment. Conclusion: For patients with chronic hepatitis B with low HBeAg levels, pgRNA is a good indicator in predicting HBeAg clearance during pegylated interferon therapy.