Lymphoblastoid interferon therapy of chronic HBV infection. A comparison of 12 vs. 24 weeks of thrice weekly treatment.
This study set out to examine the relative effectiveness and tolerability of 12- versus 24-week courses of thrice weekly intramuscular lymphoblastoid interferon in the treatment of hepatitis B 'e' antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and to identify pretreatment factors predicting the outcome of therapy. Twenty patients were randomised to each treatment group. Treatment was associated with clearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA in 59% of the 32 male patients, whereas none of the eight women responded (48% overall response rate). This response rate in males is at least three times the recorded spontaneous seroconversion rates in this population. Most of the women (5/8) were of Oriental origin and had minimal disease, factors that may have influenced response. The longer course was poorly tolerated and was therefore no more effective: eight of 20 patients withdrew because of side-effects. Variables associated with response included high AST (aspartate transaminase), short duration of disease and previous history of acute hepatitis. A response to antiviral therapy was accompanied by clinical and biochemical evidence of improvement in liver disease.
Scully
L J
LJ
Academic Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.
Shein
R
R
Karayiannis
P
P
McDonald
J A
JA
Thomas
H C
HC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I