title: Interferon treatment in acute hepatitis B infection with prolonged course.
abstract: Interferon treatment (3.0 x 10(6) units of human leucocyte interferon) was initiated in a 64-year-old woman with acute hepatitis B infection showing a prolonged course. A decline in serum bilirubin, HBsAg and DNA polymerase activity started during the 10-day period of interferon treatment, and 4 weeks after start of treatment the liver function tests were quite normal. It is possible that the interferon treatment had a beneficial influence on the clinical course of the illness and may be worth trying also in acute fulminant cases of viral hepatitis.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007372:Interferons; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D001663:Bilirubin