Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with beta interferon given intramuscularly: a pilot study.
In a pilot study aimed to test the therapeutic potential of beta interferon (IFN) given intramuscularly we treated 4 patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B with a progressively increased dosage of beta IFN (from 5 to 9 million units daily) for 1 month and with 9 million units for 5 additional months, thrice weekly. In 3 of the 4 patients, serum HBV-DNA decreased during therapy and remained undetectable in 2 who seroconverted from HBeAg to anti-HBe while in 1 patient viraemia rebounded to pretreatment levels during the follow-up. In the remaining patient serum HBV-DNA fluctuated during treatment. These results suggest that beta IFN given intramuscularly has a potential therapeutic efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis B and prompt further clinical trials in a larger number of patients.
Capalbo
M
M
Servizio di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Molinette, Torino, Italy.
Actis
C
C
Maurizia
R
R
Brunetto
R
R
Poli
G
G
Baldi
M
M
Palmisano
L
L
Verme
G
G
Bonino
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000410:Alanine Transaminase