Abstract: Objective To investigate the predictive factors in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with HBeAg
positive treated with 24 weeks pegylated interferon α-2b (PegIFNα-2b) therapy. Methods Total of 164 CHB
patients with HBeAg positive who finished 24 weeks PegIFNα-2b threrapy were enrolled. Patients were
divided into combined response (CR) group and non-combined response (NCR) group. Baseline demographic
characteristics, virological and biochemical characteristics were compared between two groups. Dynamic
changes of HBsAg and HBeAg at 12 weeks were also compared. Receiver operating curve (ROC) were built
to evaluate the predicative efficiency of different characteristics and the best cut-off values. The sensitivity
(Se), specificity (Sp), Youden index (YI), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value
(NPV) of different characteristics were furtherly evaluated . Results Total of 164 patients were divided into
CR group (17 ceses) and NCR group (n = 147). There are significant differences in baseline HBV DNA,
HBsAg and HBeAg between two groups (P ＜ 0.05). Levels of HBeAg and HBsAg at 12 weeks in CR group
were significantly lower than those in NCR group (P ＜ 0.05). Patients in CR group showed more significant
decrease in HBeAg and HBsAg at week 12 than those in NCR group (P ＜ 0.05). HBeAg level (PPV = 0.286)
and decrease from baseline (PPV = 0.324) at 12 weeks showed the highest PPVs. Baseline (PPV = 0.986) and
HBsAg level (PPV = 0.986) at 12 weeks showed highest NPVs. Conclusions About 10% HBeAg positive
CHB may achieve response after 24 weeks PegIFNα-2b treatment. Baseline, HBsAg and HBeAg levels at 12
weeks showed predictive values in these patients.