title: Long-term interferon-alpha treatment of children with chronic hepatitis delta: a multicentre study.
abstract: We assessed the efficacy of prolonged interferon-alpha (IFN) therapy in children with chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis delta virus (HDV) by treating 26 paediatric cases with IFN-alpha 2b (5 MU m-2, then 3 MU m-2 three times weekly for 12 (medium-term group MTG) or 24 months (long-term group, LTG). Compliance and tolerability were acceptable. At the end of therapy a complete biochemical response [normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] occurred in 12 children (5/13 in MTG and 7/13 in LTG). A relapse occurred after stopping IFN in 10 cases (five in MTG and five in LTG). Two patients from the LTG had normal liver function tests during 12 months of follow-up. Six of the eight hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive children lost HBeAg, while all six hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positive patients lost HBV DNA during treatment. HBeAg reappeared later in two children. HDV RNA, present in 10/10 cases of MTG before treatment, persisted after 12 months IFN therapy in 3/10. One year after stopping therapy, 8/10 patients were again HDV RNA positive. Two children cleared hepatitis delta antigen (HDVAg) from the liver. No significant improvements in liver histology were seen in both groups. Our experience suggests that IFN-alpha treatment in children with chronic type D hepatitis has a transient effect, and long-term treatment does not appear to induce a greater therapeutic benefit in terms of biochemical and virological response.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Generale, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacchino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timitilli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crivellaro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calzia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prestileo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vajro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nebbia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stringhi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosina
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzetto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase