title: Current state of interferon therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Interferon alpha (IFN) has been used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B for approximately 25 years. Predictors of response include high pretreatment serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels, and infection in adulthood. However, only one third of patients achieve a durable response to a course of IFN therapy. Predictors of nonresponse include normal serum ALT levels, high serum HBV DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative infection, childhood infection, and immunosuppression. IFN is contraindicated in patients with decompensated liver disease. In addition, the need for parenteral administration and a significant incidence of difficult-to-tolerate side effects limit the suitability of IFN for long-term therapy. For most patients with chronic hepatitis B, including those infected neonatally and those with HBeAg-negative disease, safe, tolerable, and effective alternatives to IFN are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, Hannover, Germany. manns.michael@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manns
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha