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Clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B during interferon antiviral therapy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • Scientific question : Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its clinical manifestations are diverse. It is still unclear whether the use of interferons is related to the infection of the novel coronavirus in patients with chronic hepatitis B. • Evidence before this study: Interferon is used to treat COVID-19 patients due to its antiviral effect. Studies have found that in SARS-CoV-2 infection, interferon regulates the immune response of the body by transmitting key signals that promote antiviral cellular stress. Analysis of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 showed that the ability of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells to produce interferon (IFN) and undergo clonal expansion is significantly correlated with the resolution of the patient’s disease. • New findings: Interferon therapy reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in CHB patients does not decrease COVID-19 incidence, it may potentially mitigate COVID-19 progression or reduce disease severity. • Significance of this study: Based on our study of CHB patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, interferon (IFN) therapy may reduce the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population, thereby establishing the foundation for combined prevention and therapeutic strategies incorporating IFN treatment. To investigate the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during interferon antiviral therapy and to explore the correlation between interferon use and COVID-19 infection and clinical indicators in these patients. A retrospective study was conducted on 477 Patient with CHB who visited the Second Hepatology Department of Ditan Hospital from December 2022 to February 2023. Patients were divided into an interferon group and a nucleoside analogue group based on whether they received interferon treatment. COVID-19 infection and fever duration were the primary indicators, while blood routine and liver function were the secondary indicators. Differences in COVID-19 infection rate, fever duration, and related laboratory tests between the two groups were compared. There were 184 patients in the interferon group and 293 patients in the nucleoside analogue group. The COVID-19 infection rate was 73.91 % (136/184) in the interferon group and 92.15 % (270/293) in the nucleoside analogue group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ 2 = 29.67, P < 0.001). After COVID-19 infection, the fever duration was shorter in the interferon group than in the nucleoside analogue group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ 2 = 130.15, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that interferon use was an independent influencing factor for COVID-19 (OR = 0.25, 95 % CI: 0.14–––0.43, P < 0.001). Compared with the nucleoside analogue group, the levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, and aminotransferases were significantly different in the interferon group ( P < 0.05). There were no differences between the two groups in creatinine and cardiac enzymes ( P > 0.05). Interferon therapy can reduce the COVID-19 infection rate in patient with CHB and shorten the fever duration to a certain extent.

Source: Biosafety and Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2025.10.002