High Dose of Pegylated Interferon for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B in Children Infected With Genotype C

Objectives: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C infection is unlikely to show a good response to interferon (IFN). However, it is unknown whether a high dose of pegylated IFN (PEG‐IFN) treatment would be effective for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive children with chronic HBV genotype C infection. Methods: HBeAg‐positive children and adolescents with chronic HBV genotype C infection were eligible for this study. To increase the dose of PEG‐IFN, all patients received PEG‐IFN‐α‐2a (180 μg) without dose adjustment on the basis of body surface area for 48 weeks and were followed up for 24 weeks after the completion of treatment. Results: Thirteen patients (median age, 9 years) were enrolled prospectively for this study. One patient dropped out, and the remaining 12 patients were evaluated. Of the 12 patients, 11 received PEG‐IFN of 180 μg/1.73 m 2 or more (median, 287 μg/1.73 m 2 ). Eight (67%) experienced HBeAg seroconversion, and 1 (8%) achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss at the end of follow‐up. There was a significant difference in the decrease of hepatitis B surface antigen levels from the baseline to week 24 of treatment between the responders and the nonresponders. Serum cytokines and chemokines were measured in 10 patients. The levels of C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 9, 10, 11, and 13 in the responders tended to be higher than those in the nonresponders during the first 24 weeks of treatment. Conclusions: A high dose of PEG‐IFN treatment was effective and safe. A decrease in the hepatitis B surface antigen level from baseline to week 24 of treatment might be a predictor of HBeAg seroconversion.