Beta- and gamma-interferon in chronic active hepatitis B. A pilot trial of short-term combination therapy

Gastroenterology
W H CaselmannR Koshy

Abstract

A controlled, randomized trial of a short-term, medium-dose combination therapy of beta- and gamma-interferon was performed in 20 patients with chronic active hepatitis B. According to clinical, biochemical, and histologic findings that were followed up for 16-24 mo, the combined treatment was successful in 5 of 10 patients. Two of the patients eliminated the virus completely, as confirmed by Southern blotting of hepatocellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) against hepatitis B virus DNA. In the other 3 responders hepatitis B surface antigen persisted in the absence of hepatitis B e antigen, replicating hepatitis B virus DNA in the liver and inflammatory disease activity. Two of these responders with persistent hepatitis B surface antigen had hepatitis B virus DNA integrated into the hepatocyte genome and 1 responder had nonreplicating, episomal virus DNA. In the control group of 10 patients one spontaneous remission occurred. Antiviral treatment was significantly (p less than 0.05) more successful within the first 4 yr after infection (5 responders of 6 treated patients) than after longer disease duration (no responder of 4 treated patients). The results of this pilot study suggest that a combination of beta- and gamma-interferon...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 15, 1992·Postgraduate Medicine·T L Wright
Jan 1, 1991·Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology·G M Dusheiko
Apr 1, 1993·Digestive Diseases and Sciences·R P Perrillo
Jul 1, 1990·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·P MarcellinJ P Benhamou
Jan 1, 1994·Journal of Viral Hepatitis·A S Lok
Dec 1, 1996·Reviews in Medical Virology·N A Terrault
May 1, 1993·Journal of Medical Virology·J E Lavine, D Ganem

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