Transient increase of HBsAg levels following human IFN alpha treatment signalises the patient's response in chronic active hepatitis B.
Eleven patients in early stages of chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B) were treated for weeks or months with a natural or recombinant human interferon alpha (Hu IFN alpha). Changes of serum levels of selected hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were observed after Hu IFN alpha administration. Increase of HBsAg level accompanied by more or less simultaneous HBeAg level depression was the most interesting observation. These changes were well expressed in 5 reactive patients only; they usually ceased after withdrawal of IFN therapy. Reaction of the remaining 6 patients was either poor or not demonstrable. The possible mechanism for HBsAg/HBeAg serum level changes during the IFN therapy of CAH-B is discussed.
Stancek
D
D
Research Institute of Preventive Medicine, Faculty Hospital, Brno, Czechoslovakia.
Hajnická
V
V
Blaskovicová
H
H
Sudová
J
J
Laktis
K
K
Janota
S
S
Jezek
P
P
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014165:Transfer Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007370:Interferon Type I; D014165:Transfer Factor; D000212:Acyclovir