Effects of recombinant leukocyte interferon on serum immunoglobulin concentrations and lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic hepatitis B.
To investigate immune effects of interferon (IFN) therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B, serum immunoglobulin concentrations and peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were sequentially studied before, during, and after therapy in nine patients who were treated with recombinant human alpha-IFN in doses ranging from 3 to 10 million units per day for 28 days. Serum immunoglobulin A levels decreased significantly, from 414 +/- 23 mg/dl (mean +/- SE) to 379 +/- 28 mg/dl (P less than 0.05), after the first week of therapy and to a bottom value of 323 +/- 20 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) at the fourth week. Immunoglobulin G levels decreased significantly, from 2603 +/- 175 to 2328 +/- 169 mg/dl (P less than 0.005), after the first week of therapy and to a bottom value of 2005 +/- 199 mg/dl (P less than 0.001) at the fourth week. Immunoglobulin M levels were also reduced significantly after 3 weeks of therapy (from 229 +/- 23 to 188 +/- 15 mg/dl; P less than 0.01). These reductions in immunoglobulins A, G, and M returned to pretreatment levels by 4 months after the end of the therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Tsuji
H
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Murai
K
K
Akagi
K
K
Fujishima
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins