In HBeAg-positive adults with chronic hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon gave a non-significant trend to more HBeAg loss at 72 weeks (45.8% vs 28.0%, P = 0.067).
In plain wordsIn adults with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon did not significantly increase HBeAg loss at 72 weeks versus interferon plus placebo.
- Peptide
- Thymosin alpha-1
- Outcome
- No significant changeHBeAg loss at 72 weeks
- Study
n = 98
- Comparator
- Placebo plus lymphoblastoid interferon
- Analysis
- Primary
- Outcome group
- Antiviral activity · Liver
- Studied dose
- 1.6 microg three times per week · 24 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
- HBeAg loss
- 45.8%
- combination therapy, week 72
- HBeAg loss
- 28%
- monotherapy, week 72
- Difference in HBeAg loss
- 17.8%
- combination vs monotherapy
Source sentences
The HBeAg loss was 45.8% and 28.0% for combination therapy and monotherapy, respectively (difference, 17.8%; 95% CI -1.2%-35.3%, P = 0.067).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial compares the addition of thymosin-alpha1, 1.6 microg taken three times per week (combination therapy) or thymosin placebo (monotherapy) to lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon), 5 million international units (MIU) taken three times per week, for 24 weeks.
A total of 98 HBeAg-positive patients were recruited, of which 48 were randomized to combination therapy and 50 to monotherapy.