Long term efficacy of pegylated ınterferone in the treatment of delta hepatitis: a single center experience

Background and aims: Currently there is no satisfactory treatment of chronic HDV. We aimed to evaluate the long term efficacy of PEG-interferones. Patients and Methods: Patients who received PEG-interferone for chronic delta hepatitis during a 7-year period were retrospectively analysed. End of treatment response, virologic response at 6 months after treatment, and long term efficacy were evaluated. Predictors of treatment response were determined. Results: The study group consisted of 31 patients. Twenty-three patients received either PEG-interferone alfa-2a (n=8) or PEG- interferone alfa-2b (n=15) for at least 48 weeks. Thirteen patients had an end of treatment virologic response (ITT:56.5%, PP:68.4%). HDV RNA negativity after 6 months off PEG-interferone treatment was achieved in 12 patients (ITT:52.1%, PP:63.1%). The patients were followed for a median duration of 36 months after PEG-interferone treatment (min-max:12-120 months). Four patients (33.3%) relapsed during the follow-up. Sustained virologic response (ITT) was 34.8% in the long term. Undetectable HDV RNA level at week 24 of treatment and biochemical response were independent predictors of end of treatment response and sustained virologic response in the long term, respectively. Conclusion: PEG-interferones have an unsatisfactory efficacy on the treatment of HDV because of a considerable relapse in the long term. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2016, 79, 329-335).