title: Clinical evaluation of intramuscular administration of natural interferon-gamma in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Natural interferon-gamma at a dose of 0.5 x 10(6) or 1 x 10(6) IU daily was intramuscularly administered daily for 4 weeks to 15 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The efficacy and safety of the treatment were evaluated for 24 weeks following the completion of the 4-week treatment period. Persistent disappearance of HBeAg was observed in 5 of 15 patients. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related DNA polymerase disappeared in 5 of 13 patients at the end of interferon therapy. On the other hand, serum ALT and beta 2-microglobulin levels showed a significant increase during the interferon therapy period. The side effects were completely reversible. These findings suggest that interferon-gamma has an antiviral effect in patients with chronic hepatitis B and that the main mechanism of the therapeutic effect may be associated with the elimination of HBV-infected hepatocytes due to the immunopotentiating effect of the substance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakumu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase