Therapeutic Effect of a Low Dosage of Human Leukocyte Interferon on Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
- 1 January 1983
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Digestion
- Vol. 26 (4), 205-212
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000198891
Abstract
A low dosage of human leukocyte interferon was intramuscularly given to 47 patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive chronic active hepatitis once a week for 4 consecutive weeks (10 × 105, 5 × 105, 2 × 105 and 1 × 105 U). After treatment, a reduction of serum HBsAg was observed in 26 patients; 3 of them showed no serum HBsAg and 1 of the 3 appeared to produce antibody to HBsAg. 31 of 34 patients investigated showed a significant decrease in Dane particle-associated DNA-polymerase activity (p < 0.001). Among 17 patients positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), 10 of them seroconverted to anti-HBe. Serum transaminase levels also significantly improved in 34 of 38 patients (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that a low dosage of human leukocyte interferon such as 18 × 105 U, administered in progressively decreasing doses, may be effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Seroconversion from Hepatitis B e Antigen to Antibody in Chronic Type B HepatitisAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1981
- Antiviral Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection. I. Changes in Viral Markers with Interferon Combined with Adenine ArabinosideThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1981
- Seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen to anti-HBe in chronic hepatitis B virus infectionGastroenterology, 1980
- DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY OF LEUCOCYTE INTERFERON ADMINISTRATION IN CHRONIC HBsAg-POSITIVE HEPATITISThe Lancet, 1980
- Fibroblast interferon treatment of a patient with chronic active hepatitisAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 1979
- Effect of Human Leukocyte Interferon on Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Patients with Chronic Active HepatitisNew England Journal of Medicine, 1976
- ADMINISTRATION OF HUMAN FIBROBLAST INTERFERON IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B INFECTIONThe Lancet, 1976