Circulating acid-labile interferon in chronic versus acute, HBV-related liver disease. A marker of immune-mediated hepatocellular damage?
An acid-labile Interferon was detected in the circulation of 76.1% of patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, in 30% of patients with acute type B hepatitis, studied within 15 days from starting of symptoms, and in 25% of patients with acute type B hepatitis studied 4 to 6 weeks after the admission. Patients in the third group showing evidence of circulating Interferon had also a delayed recovery and tardive HBsAg clearance. Circulating immune complexes were detected in 85.7% of patients of the first group, in 63.3% of patients of the second group, and in 25% of patients of the third group. We suggest that an acid-labile circulating Interferon could be related to immune-mediated hepatocellular damage (evidenced by circulating immune complexes) in hepatitis B virus infection, gradually disappearing during recovery from acute hepatitis or persisting indefinitely in chronic active hepatitis.
Biglino
A
A
Cariti
G
G
Gioannini
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007372:Interferons