title: Combination of prednisolone withdrawal and antiviral agents (adenine arabinoside, interferon) in chronic hepatitis B. A long-term follow-up study.
abstract: In 1981, we initiated combination therapy of short-term prednisolone withdrawal and adenine arabinoside (ARA-A) or interferon (IF) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Long-term follow up (range 12-48 months) of 79 HBeAg-positive patients showed that at 24 months serum HBeAg was still positive in 77% of controls, 73% of patients receiving ARA-A or IF alone, 38% of patients receiving prednisolone withdrawal alone, and 25% of those receiving the combination therapy. The long-term follow up study revealed that the combination of an immunomodulating therapy and antiviral agents appears more effective in reducing hepatitis B virus replication than single agent treatment.
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007372:Interferons; D011239:Prednisolone; D014740:Vidarabine