Effect of short-term prednisone therapy on aminotransferase levels and hepatitis B virus markers in chronic type B hepatitis.
We have studied the effect of short-term high-dose prednisone therapy on aminotransferase levels and hepatitis B virus markers in 6 patients with chronic type B hepatitis. All showed a decrease in amino transferase levels during treatment. This was followed by a transient increase in aminotransferase levels after prednisone was discontinued. In 5 patients, there was a decrease in hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity at the time of postprednisone peak of aminotransferase levels. Three of them became transiently deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase negative. All the patients have remained hepatitis B e antigen-positive throughout the period of observation. We have also found transient deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase negativity unrelated to prednisone therapy in 2 patients with chronic type B hepatitis: in one during a superimposed episode of acute type A hepatitis, and in the other during a period of pronounced alanine aminotransferase elevation. We postulate that these periods of deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase negativity are due to a decreased number of hepatitis B virus-infected cells in the liver as a consequence of hepatic necrosis.
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013997:Time Factors
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D011241:Prednisone