title: Serum zinc as a factor predicting response to interferon-alpha2b therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Although it has been unclear why more than 50% of children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection do not respond to interferon therapy, in some instances resistance to interferon probably is caused by an inability to stimulate appropriately cellular immune responses to hepatitis B virus. It is known that immune integrity is tightly linked to zinc status. We examined the relationship between serum zinc levels and response to interferon (INF)-alpha therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B. Twenty-five children with chronic hepatitis B infection were injected with 5 x 10(6) units/m2 recombinant IFN-alpha 2b subcutaneously three times weekly for 9 mo. Children were followed for at least 9 mo after the end of therapy. Sustained response was obtained in eight (32%) patients. Although initial serum zinc and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly higher; initial hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-DNA values, hepatic activity index, periportal necrosis, and fibrosis scores were significantly lower in sustained responders than in nonresponders. Mean baseline serum zinc, alanine aminotransferase and HBV-DNA values, histologic activity index, periportal necrosis, and fibrosis scores were predictive of response to IFN-alpha 2b therapy. These findings suggest that serum zinc levels might be used as a factor predicting response to interferon-alpha 2b therapy, and so may help in identifying those children with a better chance of response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Social Security Tepecik Teaching Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozbal
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helvaci
authors.forename: Erhun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kasirga
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akdenizoğlu
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kizilgüneşler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015032:Zinc