title: Comparative efficacy of adenine arabinoside 5' monophosphate and prednisone withdrawal followed by adenine arabinoside 5' monophosphate in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis type B.
abstract: Thirty-eight patients with chronic active hepatitis type B received antiviral therapy. In one trial, 22 patients were randomized to either no treatment or treatment with a 28-day cycle of adenine arabinoside 5' monophosphate (ARA-AMP); in a second trial, 13 patients were randomized to no treatment or treatment with two 28-day cycles of ARA-AMP separated by a 4-wk rest interval; during a third trial, 11 individuals were treated with 8 wk of prednisone therapy followed by 28 days of ARA-AMP therapy. The response rate (73%) to the regimen with prednisone was significantly greater than that achieved in the first or second trial (0% and 15%, respectively). The data indicate that the combination of short-term prednisone and ARA-AMP therapy may offer more promise for successful treatment of chronic active hepatitis type B than does ARA-AMP alone. Synergism may possibly occur by the combined effects of immune rebound provided by corticosteroid withdrawal and the inhibition of viral proliferation by ARA-AMP.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Perrillo
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Regenstein
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bodicky
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sunwoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001088:Arabinonucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001088:Arabinonucleotides; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate; D011241:Prednisone