Viral nucleotide changes in asymptomatic hepatitis B carriers undergoing interferon treatment.
BACKGROUND
Interferon might induce mutation in regions of hepatitis B virus DNA that encode for immunologic target of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the short-term effect of steroid priming and interferon therapy on hepatitis B virus, we followed the nucleotide changes in the precore and core region of hepatitis B virus DNA in seven healthy asymptomatic carriers who underwent steroid priming followed by recombinant alpha interferon for 3 months.


METHODS
Hepatitis B virus DNA from serial sera of the patients were polymerase chain reaction-amplified, and the precore and core region directly sequenced and analysed.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed no serial changes in the hepatitis B virus nucleotide sequence in any of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Steroid priming and short-term treatment with interferon in healthy asymptomatic patients does not select for hepatitis B virus with mutations in the precore and core region.
How
W
W
Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
Ng
W C
WC
Tan
M F
MF
Seet
B L
BL
Guan
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001483:Base Sequence; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons; D011239:Prednisolone