[Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B in children with moderate doses of alpha interferon].
OBJECTIVE
The alpha interferon treatment criteria have not been established in children with chronic hepatitis B. We report the results of a prospective study.


METHODS
Between 1988-1992 14 children (2 girls and 12 boys) with chronic hepatitis B received 3 million U/m2 of interferon alpha three times a week for 6 months. All patients underwent a liver biopsy that showed a pattern of chronic active hepatitis. One patient had cirrhosis. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis Be antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA had been positive in the serum in all for at least 6 months and anti-delta antibodies were negative in all. Pretreatment aminotransferase levels were at least 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.


RESULTS
After treatment patients were followed up for at least one year (mean: 21.5 +/- 8.3 months). At the end of treatment HBV DNA was negative in 13 out of 14 patients and reappeared in one; HBeAg seroconversion was observed in 11 patients with the appearance of anti-HBe antibodies. Six patients lost the HBs antigen within 1 to 14 months after treatment. Anti-HBs antibodies did not appear in any patients and aminotransferase level normalized in 13 patients. Thirteen patients underwent liver biopsy after treatment which showed improvement in 12.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with alpha interferon at doses of 3 MU/m2 is effective in children with active hepatitis B. Long-term follow up is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy.
Cullu
F
F
Service de Gastroentérologie Pédiatrique, CHU, Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul.
Tümay
G T
GT
Kutlu
T
T
Erkan
T
T
Ozbay
G
G
Badur
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
Traitement de l'hépatite chronique à virus B de l'enfant par des doses modérées d'interféron alpha.