Effects of immunosuppressive therapy on viral markers in chronic active hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B virus associated DNA polymerase activity, hepatitis b surface antigen (HBsAg), and serum aspartate aminotransferase were followed in 21 patients with chronic active hepatitis while immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone +/- azathioprine) was being withdrawn. In every case, DNA polymerase activity fell within 6-10 wk of decreasing treatment and became undetectable in 8 patients. This was usually accompanied by a fall in HbsAg titer and a transient rise in serum aspartate aminotransferase activity. Four additional patients with previously untreated HbsAg positive chronic active hepatitis were placed on prednisone for 12 wk. There was a rise in DNA polymerase activity and HBsAg titer with a fall in serum aspartate aminotransferase values during treatment. Upon discontinuing therapy, DNa polymerase activity fell dramatically in all 3 patients who completed their course of prednisone and became undetectable in 1. These findings suggest that immunosuppressive therapy has a potentiating effect on hepatitis B viral replication in patients with chronic active hepatitis.
D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone