Long-term follow-up of chronic hepatitis B patients treated with interferon alfa.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is very little data on the long-term outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis B after interferon therapy. A 6-year follow-up of two interferon trials in chronic hepatitis B patients is reported.

METHODS:

One hundred twenty-eight Chinese adults with chronic hepatitis B who received interferon therapy were followed for 19-79 months (median 41 months). Twenty-nine patients lost hepatitis B e antigen and two also lost hepatitis B surface antigen within 1 year of treatment.

RESULTS:

Seven (24%) responders reactivated. Twenty-eight (28%) nonresponders had sustained clearance of hepatitis B e antigen during follow-up. Delayed clearance of hepatitis B e antigen occurred more frequently in nonresponders who had elevated pretreatment serum transaminase levels. (P = 0.002). Serum hepatitis B virus DNA became undetectable by polymerase chain reaction assay in both responders who lost hepatitis B surface antigen but in only 8 (17%) patients who lost hepatitis B e antigen only. Delayed clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen was not seen in any of the 48 patients who had sustained clearance of hepatitis B e antigen.

CONCLUSIONS:

Contrary to reports from Western countries, complete elimination of markers of hepatitis B virus infection was uncommon in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent interferon therapy despite similar duration of follow-up.

• Authors: A S Lok, H T Chung, V W Liu, O C Ma
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 105 Issue 6 Pg. 1833-8 (Dec 1993) ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8253359 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Interferon Type I
• Recombinant Proteins
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Base Sequence
• Chronic Disease
• DNA, Viral (analysis, metabolism)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hepatitis B (microbiology, therapy)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (metabolism)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis B virus (genetics)
• Humans
• Interferon Type I (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Metabolic Clearance Rate
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Recombinant Proteins