Thiamine treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic hepatitis B is an international health concern that causes cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure, and death. Current treatment options are expensive and associated with side effects; however, indirect evidence suggests a relationship between relative thiamine deficiency and chronic hepatitis B infection.


METHODS
The authors present three case studies wherein multiple crossovers of daily thiamine administration were used to evaluate a hypothesized association between thiamine treatment and aminotransferase levels.


RESULTS
In each case study, thiamine administration was associated with reduction in aminotransferase levels and the fall of HBV DNA to undetectable levels. Analyses by t test demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in aminotransferase levels in all three cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between thiamine administration and chronic hepatitis B infection warrants further study. If proven effective in reducing liver damage or inducing remission of the hepatitis B virus in larger trials, thiamine will offer obvious advantages over the current treatments for chronic viral hepatitis B infection.
Department of Psychiatry and Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
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Wallace
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Weeks
D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D004279:DNA, Viral; D000637:Transaminases; D013831:Thiamine