title: Effect of recombinant alpha 2 interferon with or without prednisone in Chinese HBsAg carrier children.
abstract: Ninety Chinese hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier children, aged 2-17 years, positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus DNA on at least three occasions in 6 months, were randomized into 3 groups. Thirty children received syrup vitamin B complex as control, 29 received 6 weeks of placebo syrup followed by 16 weeks of recombinant alpha 2b-interferon [intron A (rIFN2b)], 5 x 10(6) u/m2 subcutaneously thrice weekly; and 31 received 6 weeks of syrup prednisone (0.6 mg/kg tailed to 0.2 mg/kg) followed by 16 weeks of recombinant alpha 2b-interferon as above. The placebo/prednisone syrup was given on a double-blind basis. At 24 months of follow-up, persistent loss of hepatitis B virus DNA occurred in none of the children in the control group, in one child receiving recombinant alpha 2b-interferon alone, who also seroconverted to anti-HBe and anti-HBs and in five children receiving interferon with steroid priming (p = 0.0571 compared with controls), with four seroconverting to anti-HBe and one also seroconverting to anti-HBs. A rise of transaminases to above twice the upper limit of normal levels during the first 7 months of follow-up occurred in one subject in the control group, four in the group receiving alpha 2b-interferon alone and nine in the group receiving recombinant alpha 2b-interferon with steroid priming (p = 0.0144 compared with controls). Side effects of the steroid were negligible; those of recombinant alpha 2b-interferon were transient and acceptable. We conclude that 6 weeks of prednisone followed by 16 weeks of recombinant alpha 2b-interferon is of use in inducing persistent loss of hepatitis B virus DNA (16.1 per cent) and e-seroconversion (12.9 per cent) in a proportion of Chinese HBsAg carrier children: the prednisone probably enhances the immunomodulatory effect of recombinant alpha 2b-interferon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Flok
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011241:Prednisone