title: Randomised controlled trial of lymphoblastoid interferon for chronic active hepatitis B.
abstract: Thirty male patients (28 homosexual or bisexual) with biopsy proven chronic active hepatitis B were randomised to receive lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) or no treatment. All patients were HBeAg-positive and had continuing viral replication. Interferon was given as a single daily i.m. injection for 28 days at a starting dose of 2.5 megaunits/m2 increasing to a maximum of 7.5 megaunits/m2/day. Transient side-effects occurred in all patients. Hepatitis B viral replication was suppressed during interferon treatment in all patients but the effect was limited to the period of therapy. After 1 year there was no appreciable difference in viral markers between the two groups of patients and this treatment schedule appears less effective than the thrice weekly, 3-month regimes reported from other centres.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Murray-Lyon
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins