Resolution of hepatitis B viremia in a renal transplant recipient treated with alpha-2b interferon.
A renal transplant patient developed symptomatic hepatitis after withdrawal from corticosteroids. Tests for hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis B viral DNA were both positive prior to treatment with 1 million units alpha interferon three times weekly for 3 weeks followed by an increase to 3 million units alpha interferon three times weekly for a total of 16 weeks. At the end of treatment, hepatitis had clinically resolved with conversion to a hepatitis B e antibody positive and hepatitis B e antigen and viral DNA negative state. The renal allograft function remained excellent throughout the course of therapy with interferon.
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Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Hricik
D E
DE
Sterling
R K
RK
Bartucci
M R
MR
Jacobs
G H
GH
Schulak
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins