Effects of low molecular weight glycoproteins in chronic hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effect of low molecular weight glycoproteins isolated from animal spleen (Polyerga) in ten patients with biopsy proven chronic HBV infection with ongoing replication.


METHODS
Polyerga was given intramuscularly trice weekly and orally 3 tablets daily for 24 weeks. The effect on viral replication was evaluated by measuring HBV-DNA and HBeAg in serum.


RESULTS
In three out of ten, HDV-DNA became undetectable and ALT decreased (mean pre-treatment ALT 87.2 +/- 55.38SD, mean post-treatment ALT 62.6 +/- 41.86SD p = 0.026 t-test and Wilcoxon test p = 0.014). During the first month of Polyerga application transient increase of serum ALT was observed in 50%. In HBeAg negative patients and in patients with low pre-treatment level of HBV-DNA (below 250pg/ml) there was significant decrease of ALT by t-test (p = 0.022), Wilcoxon (p = 0.028) and Sign test (p = 0.041) in contrast to those with HBV-DNA above 250pg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of increasing the cytolysis shows that these drugs are active, probably by increasing the lymphokine secretion and the generation of cytotoxic T-cells. The absence of side effects, its ability to reduce viral replication and lower ALT activity even in patients with liver cirrhosis warrants further studies as a "second drug" or as a drug of choice when IFN is contraindicated.
Vassilev
M
M
Department of Internal Diseases Medical University, Sofia University Hospital, St Iv. Rilskii, Bulgaria.
Antonov
K
K
Theocharov
P
P
Krastev
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006020:Glycopeptides; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010636:Phenols; C054629:polyerga neu; D000410:Alanine Transaminase