Long-term outcomes of thymosin-α1 and interferon α-2b combination therapy in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B
| dc.contributor.author | Saruc, M | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ozden, N | |
| dc.contributor.author | Turkel, N | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ayhan, S | |
| dc.contributor.author | Hock, LM | |
| dc.contributor.author | Tuzcuoglu, I | |
| dc.contributor.author | Yuceyar, H | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-10T10:31:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-10T10:31:57Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Hepatitis B e antibody (HbeAb) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positive chronic hepatitis is a clinical entity, distinct from classical hepatitis B e antigen (HbeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term therapeutic efficacy of the combination of interferon alpha-2b and thymosin-alpha1 compared with lamivudine plus interferon alpha-2b and interferon alpha-2b alone. Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner. Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks. Group 2 (n = 10) received interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 52 weeks. Group 3 (n = 15) received interferon a-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) and lamivudine [100 mg orally (po), q.d.] for, 62 weeks, followed by continuous lamivudine (100 mg po, q.d.) therapy. By the end of 78 weeks, a sustained response (SR-6 mo) was seen in 74% (20/27) of the patients within Group 1. On the contrary, Groups 2 and 3 had sustained response rates of 40 (4/10) and 53.3% (8/15), respectively (p = 0.13). At the end of 12 months post-treatment in Group 1, a virological and biochemical response rate was seen in 70.3% of patients (19/27); in contrast, Groups 2 and 3 had response rates of 20 (2/10) and 26.6% (4/15), respectively (p = 0036). At the end of the 18-month post-treatment follow-up period, 71.4% (19/27) of patients in Group 1, 10% of patients in Group 2 (1/10), and 20% of patients in Group 3(3/15) preserved their sustained response (p = 0.0003). Interferon alpha-2b and thymosin-alpha1 combination therapy results in significant virological and biochemical response rates compared with standard therapeutic regimens and is well tolerated. | |
| dc.identifier.e-issn | 1520-6017 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 0022-3549 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14701/38379 | |
| dc.language.iso | English | |
| dc.title | Long-term outcomes of thymosin-α1 and interferon α-2b combination therapy in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B | |
| dc.type | Article |