Interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis B: enhanced response in children 5 years old or younger.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there is an improved response to interferon in children with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) who are < or =5 years of age.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 22 consecutive children with chronic HBV (ages 17 months to 17 years; median, 83.9 months; 14 male, 8 female) treated with interferon-alpha2b.


RESULTS
Ten patients (48%) responded to treatment [HBeAg (-), Anti-HBe (+), HBV DNA (-), HBsAg (+) and normal alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) at 6 months after treatment], and 5 seroconverted HBsAg [above plus HBsAg negative and anti-HBs (+)]. Seven of 9 patients (78%) < or =5 years of age responded (5 cleared HBsAg). Three of 13 patients (23%) >5 years of age responded. Patient age at treatment was significantly lower in responders (63 +/- 70 months) versus nonresponders (104 +/- 55 months, P =.005). AST, ALT, and HBV DNA at the start of treatment were not different between responders and nonresponders or between patients < or =5 and >5 years old.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon treatment may be more effective in younger children with chronic hepatitis B.
Kobak
Gregory E
GE
Pediatric Liver Center and Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA.
MacKenzie
Todd
T
Sokol
Ronald J
RJ
Narkewicz
Michael R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins