Effect of prednisone on DR-positive T cells in children with chronic active hepatitis B.
The effect of short-term immunosuppressive treatment on the percentage of circulating DR-bearing T cells was investigated in 16 children with HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis. DR-positive T cells, thought to represent activated T cells, were significantly increased in all patients as compared to 10 age-matched controls [14.5 +/- 4.2% (mean +/- SD) vs. 0.4 +/- 0.1%, p less than 0.001]. Fifty-six percent of patients showed a decrease in the percentage of DR-positive T cells after 72 h of prednisone therapy. A response did not correlate with the presence of HBeAg, anti-HBeAg, or anti-delta antibodies. There was an inverse relationship (r = -0.56; p less than 0.05) between the decrease of the percent of DR-positive T cells during immunosuppression and pretreatment alanine aminotransferase levels. The persistence of high levels of circulating DR-bearing T cells during therapy may represent the immunological counterpart of more severe disease, and of nonresponsiveness to corticosteroids.
Pignata
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, University of Reggio, Calabria, Italy.
Vajro
P
P
Vegnente
A
A
Monaco
G
G
Fontanella
A
A
Nuzzo
V
V
Ciccimarra
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D011241:Prednisone