Oral pulse prednisone therapy in the treatment of HBsAg negative chronic active hepatitis.
A young woman with hepatitis B surface antigen negative chronic active hepatitis and hypergammaglobulinemia was treated successfully with oral pulse steroid therapy consisting of prednisone, 90 mg/day, given in repeated 3--5-day courses at 3--4-wk intervals. This approach, which is hypothetically founded on the ability of steroids to cause prolonged inhibition of immunoglobulin G synthesis and proposed mechanisms of hepatocellular damage in chronic active hepatitis, permitted complete clinical, chemical, and histologic remission without morbidity. Oral pulse prednisone therapy deserves further study as a possible adjunct or alternative to existing methods of managing hepatitis B surface antigen negative chronic active hepatitis associated with hypergammaglobulinemia.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011241:Prednisone