Efficacy of interferon alpha-2b and lamivudine therapy for chronic hepatitis B in children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of interferon (IFN) alpha-2b and lamivudine therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.


METHODS
Ten children who developed chronic hepatitis B infection received IFN alpha-2b 10 million international units (IU)/m(2) body surface area, subcutaneously three times a week for six months. IFN + lamivudine therapy began to be used in the cases who were unresponsive to IFN treatment.


RESULTS
Among 27 HBsAg (+) subjects in this study, interferon treatment was given to 11 subjects who developed chronic hepatitis. One case was excluded from the study due to detection of Herpes type 1 encephalitis. At the end of six months of follow-up, complete response was obtained in three (30%) patients and partial response in four (40%) patients, whereas no response was detected in three (30%) patients. Fifty percent of the cases experienced serological response, 70% biochemical response, and all (100%) had histological response. In three cases started concomitant IFN + lamivudine therapy, HBV-DNA became negative at the second month of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-alpha and lamivudine can be used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in children.
Bahar
Arif
A
Department of Pediatrics, GMMA Haydarpa sa Training Hospital, Kadiköy, Istanbul 81327, Turkey. Arbahar@Hotmail.com
Iscan
Selim
S
Karademir
Ferhan
F
Gocmen
Ismail
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019259:Lamivudine