Immunosuppressive treatment of chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis in childhood.
The results of immunosuppressive treatment (a corticosteroid-azathioprine combination) in 104 children suffering from chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis are reviewed. A recovery and/or improvement of the majority of the cases treated was observed after two to seven years of therapy, in contradiction to the opinion of other authors who treated adult patients. A biochemical and/or bioptic deterioration was observed in some cases in which treatment was interrupted too soon; this was followed by an improvement when treatment was re-initiated. No serious side-effects were observed with the combination treatment.
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone