title: [Twenty-four weeks administration of interferon-alpha for chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: Twenty-four weeks administration of interferon-alpha has been performed to 23 patients of chronic hepatitis B. As the result, complete or partial responders reached to 47.8%, so that it was considered to be effective therapy for chronic hepatitis B. By the investigation of behaviors of HBV-DNA, the reduction of HBV-DNA below 4 x 10(2) copy/ml during the administration of interferon was considered to be one essential factor for inducing the effectiveness of interferon. Though lamivudine, which has a strong anti-viral effect, has been permitted, interferon is still considered as the good indication for relative young patients who do not have advanced hepatic fibrosis. As a newly strategy for the patients with high titer of HBV-DNA or breakthrough hepatitis, the combination therapy of interferon and lamivudine will be expected.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Shigetoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chikazawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins