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.
Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
A B
AB
Post
D E
DE
Hricik
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RK
Sterling
M R
MR
Bartucci
G H
GH
Jacobs
J A
JA
Schulak
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