title: Possible prevention of chronic hepatitis B by early interferon therapy.
abstract: A study is currently underway to investigate the efficacy of interferon therapy in patients with prolonged (greater than or equal to 10 weeks but less than 6 months) hepatitis B infection. To date, a total of 15 patients have been enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive either placebo for 24 weeks (n = 8) or interferon 5 million units subcutaneously 3 times a week for 24 weeks (n = 7), with follow up for 1 year. Thirteen patients have completed the follow-up period: seven patients in the placebo group and six in the treated group. Five of the six treated patients completely eradicated the infection during interferon therapy, with clearance of hepatitis B e and surface antigens, and seroconversion to antibody positivity in each case. Two of the eight placebo patients seroconverted during the placebo period. Clearance of hepatitis B e antigen was associated with a sudden rise in serum transaminase levels and an exacerbation of hepatitis, a phenomenon that has also been reported in chronic hepatitis B patients who have responded well to interferon therapy. Therapy was well tolerated in all cases. Our results suggest that interferon treatment of patients with prolonged hepatitis B infection may prevent progression to chronicity. If confirmed by further study, they should trigger more vigilant screening for patients with raised serum transaminase levels and viral markers of hepatitis B infection.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hépatogastroentérologie, Hôtel Dieu, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trépo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chemin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chossegros
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zoulim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sepetjan
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; 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 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D007372:Interferons