Randomised controlled trial of lymphoblastoid interferon for chronic active hepatitis B.
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.
Anderson
M G
MG
Harrison
T J
TJ
Alexander
G J
GJ
Zuckerman
A J
AJ
Murray-Lyon
I M
IM
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
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins