Should treatment of hepatitis B depend on hepatitis B virus genotypes? A hypothesis generated from an explorative analysis of published evidence

Abstract

Objective: Standard treatment for hepatitis B is either based on interferon or on nucleos(t)ide analogues. Available evidence on treatment outcome by hepatitis B virus genotype was summarized and analysed to determine whether the genotype has a substantial role in selecting treatment. Methods: Abstracts from PubMed, the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the American Association for the Study of the Liver Diseases were screened for publications with at least 30 patients and reporting hepatitis B treatment results (hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg] seroconversion, loss of HBeAg or loss of HBV DNA) broken down by hepatitis B genotypes. Twenty reports were identified and included. Forest-plot techniques were applied to visualize the association of HBV genotypes (A versus D and B versus C) with treatment outcome given by type of treatment and HBeAg status. The potential size of a treatment by genotype interaction was estimated. Results: Treatment response to nucleos(t)ide analogues is not significantly influenced by HBV genotype in HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative individuals. In contrast, HBV genotypes are informative concerning responses to interferon treatment in all patients with genotype A versus D and in HBeAg-positive patients with genotype B versus C. Conclusion: If no contraindications are present, interferon may be considered as first-line therapy in all genotype A patients and in individuals with genotype B who are HBeAg positive. However, confirmation of this observation in a prospective clinical trial is warranted, because this analysis is explorative and hypothesis generating only. © 2008 International Medical Press.