Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN) may induce sustained virological response (SVR) inS ubstantial advances have been made in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the past decade. Several nucleos(t)ide analogues are currently approved for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with a high efficacy in suppressing HBV replication. However, a long duration of treatment is needed to maintain viral suppression, and the major question of whether oral therapy can ever be stopped remains unanswered. 1 In parallel with analogues, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases practice guidelines have advocated pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN) as a potential first-line therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients. 2 The advantages of PEG-IFN therapy include a limited treatment course, a high rate of HBeAg seroconversion (in HBeAg-positive patients), a 20% to 30% rate of sustained virological response (SVR), the potential for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss or seroconversion, and a lack of resistance development. 3 Nonetheless, the use of PEG-IFN currently accounts for

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HBV genotype has a strong influence on serum HBsAg kinetics during PEG-IFN-alpha2a therapy in HBeAg-negative patients.