A pilot study of beta-interferon for treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B who failed to respond to alpha-interferon.
OBJECTIVE
Alpha-interferon achieves persistent loss of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in about 30-40% of patients with chronic hepatitis B. In non-responder patients, the disease may progress leading to complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of beta-interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis B who did not respond to one course of alpha-interferon.


METHODS
Twenty nine alpha-interferon-non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis B (11 hepatitis B e antigen, HBeAg-positive; 18 HBeAg-negative) were treated with 6 million units beta-interferon five times a week for 24 weeks. The post-treatment follow-up lasted for 48 weeks.


RESULTS
At the end of treatment, 38% of patients (18% HBeAg-positive; 50% HBeAg-negative) had normal serum aminotransferase levels and negative serum HBV DNA. At the end of follow-up, HBV DNA was no longer detectable in serum in 21% of patients (18% HBeAg-positive; 22% HBeAg-negative). Beta-interferon was well tolerated and safe.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that beta-interferon therapy is effective and safe in the retreatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B who had not responded to a previous alpha-interferon cycle.
Muñoz
Raquel
R
Department of Gastroenterology, Universidad Complutense, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Carretera de Andalucía, Km 5400, 28041-Madrid, Spain. rmunoz@hdoc.insalud.es
Castellano
Gregorio
G
Fernández
Inmaculada
I
Alvarez
Maria Victoria
MV
Manzano
Maria Luisa
ML
Marcos
Maria Soledad
MS
Cuenca
Beatriz
B
Solís-Herruzo
José A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000410:Alanine Transaminase