title: Clearance of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in young children after alpha interferon treatment.
abstract: Nine children aged 18 months to 17 years (mean 5.7 years) with chronic hepatitis b virus infection and chronic active hepatitis were treated with 5 to 6 million units/m2 of body surface area of interferon -alpha 2b administered subcutaneously three times per week for 4 months (n = 1) or 6 months (n = 8). At 12 months after the start of therapy, six children less than 3 years of age responded to the treatment (three completely and three partially), whereas only one of three children older than 7 years of age responded. We conclude that IFN treatment may be effective in children with chronic HBV infection, especially when administered while they are young.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins