AT A GLANCE

A new study published in Virologica Sinicai observed that patients who achieved hepatitis b surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance and discontinued pegylated interferon-α (Peg–IFN-α) treatment have a low risk of liver adverse events.¹

“Previous reports have shown that HBsAg-negative patients have a significantly lower risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis compared to HBsAg-positive patients,” explain study authors Deng et al. “However, little is known about the long-term risk of liver adverse events and associated influencing factors following HBsAg clearance and IFN-α treatment discontinuation.”

“Therefore, in this real-world observational cohort regression analysis study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients with HBsAg clearance and discontinued Peg–IFN-α treatment through long-term follow-up.”

For study purposes, the baseline was defined as the time of HBsAg clearance and treatment cessation. Liver function indicators at both baseline and the follow-up endpoint, including alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB), hemoglobin (HGB), platelet (PLT), were collected and compared between patients with and without liver adverse events, and factors associated with the occurrence of liver adverse events were analyzed.

Notably, with HBsAg clearance after IFN treatment, the APRI score significantly improved from baseline at follow-up (0.53 vs. 0.25), and the prevalence of cirrhosis decreased from 5.70% to 0.88%.

“In conclusion, patients who achieved HBsAg clearance and discontinued Peg–IFN-α treatment have a low risk of liver adverse events, while advanced age and cirrhosis remain major risk factors,” conclude the authors.

Reference

1.     Deng W, Hao H, Zhang Z, et al. Clinical outcomes after HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with Peg-IFN α:A study with an 11- to 173-month follow-up (online ahead of print July 4, 2025). Virol Sin.