title: Do the initial serum level changes of sCD26 have ability to predict successful treatment with IFN-α among naïve chronic hepatitis B patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B is a major health problem with serious consequences. In hepatitis B treatment host cellular immune responses have a determinant role and T helper cells are the main active members of immune system against virological infection. The aims of this study are to investigate response rate of patients to INF-α therapy and evaluation of sCD26 and sCD30 roles as presenters of T cells activities in predicting the outcome of therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty three chronic hepatitis B patients received IFN-α 9 MU S.C three times weekly for 24 weeks, and were followed up for 24 weeks. Serum levels of sCD26 and sCD30, before, 1 and 3 months after treatment commencement were evaluated in 53 chronic hepatitis B patients and 30 healthy individuals as control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal level of ALT was seen in 64.1% (34/53) of patients and undetectable DNA was observed in 39.6% (21 out of 53) of them. Finally, 33.9% (18/53) of patients obtained sustain virological response. CD26 levels changes was correlated with response to treatment and significantly (p<0.001) increased during first 3 months of treatment among patients with successful response to therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interferon is an effective and safe treatment for chronic hepatitis B patients and sCD26 serum level changes might be useful in predicting the outcome of therapy in naïve chronic hepatitis B patients undergoing treatment with IFN-α, as it can help clinicians for withdrawing non-responder patients for prevention of adverse events and economical burden.
authors: Research Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University, M.C, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mostafa
authors: M
authors: Alavi-Moghaddam
authors: Seyed Moayed
authors: SM
authors: Alavian
authors: Seyed Hossein
authors: SH
authors: Aalaei-Andabili
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Eslami-Far
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4