ArticleFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2026
Efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha in treating postpartum women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a multicenter prospective study.
Article in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Objective: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is a key milestone for functional (clinical) cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, data on the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFNα) for HBsAg clearance in postpartum women with chronic HBV infection remain scarce. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of Peg-IFNα in promoting HBsAg clearance in this specific population. Methods: A total of 263 HBV-infected postpartum women with a baseline HBsAg levels ≤3000 IU/mL were enrolled. Based on patient preference, they were assigned to either the Peg-IFNα group (n=62, receiving Peg-IFNα monotherapy or combination therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogs [NAs]) or the control group (n=201, receiving NAs or follow-up only). The duration of Peg-IFNα treatment was ≥48 weeks. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. The primary endpoints were both HBsAg clearance rate and the magnitude of HBsAg decline. Results: At week 48, the Peg-IFNα group had significantly higher HBsAg clearance (29.03% [18/62]) and seroconversion rates (27.42% [17/62]) than the control group (both 0%, P < 0.001). Post-PSM, the Peg-IFNα group still had a significantly higher HBsAg clearance/seroconversion rate (30.43% [14/46]) versus the control group (0%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with baseline HBsAg < 1000 IU/mL had higher clearance rates (pre-PSM: 39.02% [16/41]; post-PSM: 40.00% [12/30]). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified a ≥ 99.2% HBsAg reduction from baseline to week 12 as a strong predictor of week 48 HBsAg clearance (AUC ≥0.9; sensitivity =0.818; specificity= 1.000). Conclusion: Peg-IFNα treatment can achieve high rates of HBsAg clearance and seroconversion in postpartum women with chronic HBV infection. The postpartum period represents a unique and favorable immune window for interferon-based intervention, and patients with baseline HBsAg <1000 IU/mL derive particular benefit from this strategy.
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