Treatment with interferon gamma versus interferons alfa and gamma in children with chronic hepatitis B.
Thirty-five children with chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to three groups: group 1 (n = 12), untreated; group 2 (n = 11), treated with 1 million units of interferon gamma per square meter of body surface (MU/m2), three times a week for 24 weeks; and group 3 (n = 12), treated with interferon alfa at a dose of 5 MU/m2, three times a week for 12 weeks followed by 1 MU/m2 of interferon gamma with the same schedule. At the end of the treatment (6th month), hepatitis B virus DNA was negative in 16.5% of the control group, in 9% of the children treated with interferon gamma, and in 16.5% of those treated with interferons alfa and gamma. No child had lost the hepatitis B e antigen by this time. No basal differences in the serum hepatitis B virus DNA concentration among the groups were observed. At follow-up (15th month), viral genome was negative in 25% of the untreated children, in 36% of the group treated with interferon gamma, and in 41.5% of the children who had received interferons alfa and gamma. Hepatitis B e antigen was negative in 25% of the children who belonged to groups 1 and 3 and in 27% of the children treated with interferon gamma only. These data suggest that interferon gamma does not have a powerful antiviral effect on chronic hepatitis B in children. However, it is well tolerated.
Ruiz-Moreno
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Rúa
M J
MJ
Moraleda
G
G
Guardia
L
L
Moreno
A
A
Carreño
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma