Changes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers during prolonged recombinant interferon alpha-2A treatment of chronic HBV infection.

Abstract

Eleven HBsAg chronic carriers were treated with recombinant-interferon (rIFN)-alpha-2A with either 20 X 10(6) (n = 6) or 10 X 10(6) IU/m2 body surface (n = 5), i.m. twice weekly for 6 months. HBV-markers were tested monthly for 15 months. Throughout the follow-up, 6 patients (54%) became HBeAg, HBV-DNAp and HBV-DNA negative (responders). In addition, 8 were HBcAg-negative, 10 anti-HBc-IgM-negative and 2 HBsAg/IgM complexes negative. All patients gave polymerized human serum albumin receptors and HBsAg-positive results. The low rIFN dose seems to be more efficient for clearing HBV-markers than the high dose. Responder patients already showed lower (P less than 0.05) HBsAg concentration and HBsAg/IgM complexes levels in their basal samples as compared to non-responders, and exhibited under rIFN treatment significant decreases (P less than 0.05) in all HBV-markers studied. In conclusion, the most reliable HBV-markers to be assayed in the evaluation of antiviral therapy are HBV-DNA, HBV-DNAp or HBcAg. The testing of pHSA-R, HBsAg/IgM complexes and anti-HBc-IgM does not seem to be very useful.

• Authors: I Mora, J C Porres, J Bartolomé, J A Quiroga, J Gutiez, C Hernández Guio, C Bas, V Carreño
• Journal: Journal of hepatology (J Hepatol) Vol. 4 Issue 1 Pg. 29-36 (Feb 1987) ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 3571931 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigen-Antibody Complex
• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B Antibodies
• Hepatitis B Antigens
• Interferon Type I

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antigen-Antibody Complex (isolation & purification)
• Carrier State (immunology, microbiology, therapy)
• DNA, Viral (isolation & purification)
• Female
• Hepatitis B (immunology, microbiology, therapy)
• Hepatitis B Antibodies (isolation & purification)
• Hepatitis B Antigens (isolation & purification)
• Hepatitis B virus (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Interferon Type I (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged