Limothai U, Chuaypen N, Poovorawan K, et al. - Researchers examined the role of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA in predicting long-term outcome of patients with HBeAg(hepatitis B e antigen)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-based therapy. They retrospectively analyzed serial serum samples from 91 patients with HBeAg-negative CHB previously treated with PEG-IFN alone or combined with entecavir in a randomized trial. Outcomes revealed a correlation of baseline serum HBV RNA concentrations with HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA but with HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) levels. As per multiple regression analysis, there was an independent correlation of pretreatment HBV RNA and HBsAg with maintained virological response [MVR (maintained virological response), HBV DNA < 2,000 IU/mL] and HBsAg clearance. Findings here support the value of determining HBV RNA prior to PEG-IFN-based therapy for identifying patients with high probability of MVR. Further, HBV RNA kinetics seem to be valuable as a promising ‘stopping rule’ in patients infected with HBV genotypes B or C.