Effects of low molecular weight glycoproteins in chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

We evaluated the effect of low molecular weight glycoproteins isolated from animal spleen (Polyerga) in ten patients with biopsy proven chronic HBV infection with ongoing replication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Polyerga was given intramuscularly trice weekly and orally 3 tablets daily for 24 weeks. The effect on viral replication was evaluated by measuring HBV-DNA and HBeAg in serum.

RESULTS:

In three out of ten, HDV-DNA became undetectable and ALT decreased (mean pre-treatment ALT 87.2 +/- 55.38SD, mean post-treatment ALT 62.6 +/- 41.86SD p = 0.026 t-test and Wilcoxon test p = 0.014). During the first month of Polyerga application transient increase of serum ALT was observed in 50%. In HBeAg negative patients and in patients with low pre-treatment level of HBV-DNA (below 250pg/ml) there was significant decrease of ALT by t-test (p = 0.022), Wilcoxon (p = 0.028) and Sign test (p = 0.041) in contrast to those with HBV-DNA above 250pg/ml.

CONCLUSION:

The effect of increasing the cytolysis shows that these drugs are active, probably by increasing the lymphokine secretion and the generation of cytotoxic T-cells. The absence of side effects, its ability to reduce viral replication and lower ALT activity even in patients with liver cirrhosis warrants further studies as a "second drug" or as a drug of choice when IFN is contraindicated.

• Authors: M Vassilev, K Antonov, P Theocharov, Z Krastev
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 1996 Jul-Aug Vol. 43 Issue 10 Pg. 882-6 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 8884308 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Drug Combinations
• Glycopeptides
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Immunologic Factors
• Phenols
• polyerga neu
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• DNA, Viral (blood)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Glycopeptides (therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis B (diagnosis, therapy)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (physiology)
• Hepatitis, Chronic (diagnosis, therapy)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Phenols (therapeutic use)
• Virus Replication (drug effects)