title: Treatment of chronic hepatitis D with thymus-derived polypeptide thymic humoral factor-gamma 2: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 is a thymus-derived synthetic octapeptide, shown to be effective in chronic hepatitis B virus infection; as the latter is needed to support hepatitis D virus, thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 may have a therapeutic role in hepatitis D.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate tolerability and efficacy of thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 in chronic hepatitis D.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intramuscular thymic humoral factor-gamma 2, 40 microg, was given for 15 consecutive days and twice weekly for 22 additional weeks to adult patients with chronic hepatitis D virus hepatitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11 patients (male/female 9/2, mean age 45.9 years] completed the treatment period, 10 the 6-month follow-up. At baseline, hepatitis D virus-RNA was positive in 8/11 (73%) patients. During treatment, hepatitis D virus-RNA became undetectable in 3/8 (37%), decreased in 1/8 (13%), remained unchanged in 4/8 (50%) and persisted undetectable in 3 patients, negative at baseline. During follow-up hepatitis D-viraemia relapsed in all patients but 2, one already negative at baseline. No changes in hepatitis B virus markers occurred. Mean serum alanine aminotransferase levels did not change significantly None of the patients reached normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the doses given, thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 has been of limited efficacy A possible role of thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 in the treatment of chronic hepatitis D requires further dose-finding studies and/or combination with other antivirals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Torino, Molinette Hospital, Italy. flrosina@venturanet.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosina
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conoscitore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smedile
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borghesio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andriulli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzetto
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000276:immunology; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012367:RNA, Viral; C064563:thymic humoral factor gamma 2; D000410:Alanine Transaminase