Treatment of early chronic delta hepatitis with lymphoblastoid alpha interferon: a pilot study.

Abstract

Seven carriers of the Hepatitis B surface antigen who had acquired a form of chronic hepatitis D in the recent past were treated with lymphoblastoid alpha interferon (IFN) (10 MU three times weekly for 4 months, 6 MU three times weekly for other 8 months, with a 12 month follow-up after treatment). At the beginning of the study, these patients had a chronic active hepatitis with intrahepatic hepatitis D antigen but without signs of cirrhosis. By the end of therapy, five had normal amino-transferases and no trace of HDV-RNA in the serum. In two patients the liver enzymes and viremia relapsed during follow up; biochemical and virologic remission persisted after discontinuation of therapy in the other three patients. In the early non-cirrhotic stage of chronic hepatitis D, IFN may play a more consistent therapeutic role than in the average advanced case of the disease. Cytokine should be used as soon as a diagnosis of progressive hepatitis D is reached.

• Authors: A Marzano, A Ottobrelli, C Spezia, E Daziano, M L Soranzo, M Rizzetto
• Journal: The Italian journal of gastroenterology (Ital J Gastroenterol) 1992 Mar-Apr Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 119-21 ISSN: 0392-0623 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 1562748 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Interferon-alpha
• RNA, Viral

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis D (microbiology, pathology, therapy)
• Hepatitis Delta Virus (genetics, immunology)
• Hepatitis, Chronic (microbiology, pathology, therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Liver (pathology)
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• RNA, Viral (analysis)
• Time Factors