When will we change treatment in the care of patients with chronic hepatitis B?
BACKGROUND
The treatment by the standard interferon is at present the only treatment recommended in Tunisia in the care of the chronic infection B.


OBJECTIVE
Estimate the biochemical and virological answer of the patients reached by a chronic hepatitis B, treated by standard interferon.


METHODS
All the patients, having a chronic hepatitis B confirmed histological, hospitalised in the service of hepatho-gastroenterologie of the hospital Habib Thameur between 1990-2005, were respectively included. The studied parameters were the age, the sex, the transaminases levels meadow and post therapeutic, the viral HVB DNA, the degree of activity and fibrosis according to the score of Metavir. The biochemical answer was defined by the normalization of transaminases at the end of treatment. The virological answer was defined by the seroconversion Ag Hbe for the patients Ag Hbe + and by the negativation of the HBV DNA for all patients.


RESULTS
Fifty-one patients of an average age of 31.38 +/- 12.42 years [range: 12-68 years] were included. Twenty-five patients (49%) were treated. Sixteen of them (31%) were Ag Hbe-. The biochemical answer was observed in four cases. A seroconversion was observed in two cases. No negativation of the HBV DNA has been noted.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the standard interferon in the treatment of the chronic hepatitis B are disappointing in this series. The introduction of new therapeutic molecules adorned necessities in the care of such patients.
Hefaiedh
Rania
R
Department of Gastroenterology, Habib Thameur Hospital, Montfleury, Tunisia.
Elloumi
Hela
H
Ouakaa-Kchaou
Asma
A
Belhadj
Najet
N
Gargouri
Dalila
D
Kochlef
Asma
A
Kilani
Afef
A
Romani
Malika
M
Kharrat
Jamel
J
Ghorbel
Abdejabbar
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a