Elevated interleukin-6 and gamma-globulin during interferon therapy of hepatitis B.
A 49-yr-old man with chronic hepatitis B manifested hypergammaglobulinemia, lymphadenopathy, and a high serum interleukin-6 level following treatment with recombinant human alpha-interferon. One month later, when the patient was treated with natural beta-interferon, serum levels of interleukin-6 and gamma-globulin increased again. The serum gamma-globulin decreased to the pretreatment level after discontinuation of interferon therapy. The serum alanine aminotransferase level remained normal for 6 months. In this case, hypergammaglobulinemia and lymphadenopathy, as well as the elevated serum interleukin-6 level, were considered to be signs of highly enhanced humoral immunity related to alpha- and beta-interferon therapy.
Itoh
Y
Y
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Okanoue
T
T
Enjyo
F
F
Morimoto
M
M
Takeuchi
T
T
Kagawa
K
K
Kashima
K
K
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism
D007370:Interferon Type I; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D016899:Interferon-beta; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase