Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up
The aim of treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon is to induce a transition from the replicative phase of the disease to a nonreplicative state, with loss of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive to anti-HBe antibody-positive, and normaliza...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
1996-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1996/683012 |
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| author | Jean-Pierre Villeneuve Bernard Willems |
| author_facet | Jean-Pierre Villeneuve Bernard Willems |
| author_sort | Jean-Pierre Villeneuve |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon is to induce a transition from the replicative phase of the disease to a nonreplicative state, with loss of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive to anti-HBe antibody-positive, and normalization of liver enzymes. The authors’ experience in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with recombinant human interferon alpha-2b (5 MU/m2 subcutaneously three times/week for 16 weeks) is reported. Before treatment all patients had been positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBeAg for at least six months, had abnormal serum aminotransferases, had no evidence of hepatitis D or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and had compensated liver disease. Eleven of 22 patients (50%) responded to treatment with loss of HBeAg and appearance of anti-HBe antibodies, and normalization of serum aminotransferases within six months of interferon cessation. Patients were followed for 3.4±1.2 years after treatment. Ten of 11 responders remained negative for HBeAg and HBV-DNA; one patient relapsed and responded to a second course of interferon with loss of HBeAg and HBV-DNA. Seven of the 11 nonresponders underwent spontaneous (n=5) or retreatment-induced (n=2) seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe and loss of HBV-DNA during follow-up. The other four nonresponders remained positive for HBeAg and HBV-DNA; three of the four progressed to decompensated liver disease. It is concluded that interferon is an effective treatment of chronic hepatitis B in 50% of patients with features similar to those used as selection criteria in the present study. These criteria probably also identify patients who have a high likelihood of spontaneous HBeAg to anti-HBe seroconversion, and it is possible that the benefit of interferon is its acceleration of this seroconversion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-811be8de0b4949829e8a64b0a374bde3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0835-7900 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 1996-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology |
| spelling | doaj-art-811be8de0b4949829e8a64b0a374bde32025-08-20T02:08:53ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79001996-01-01101212510.1155/1996/683012Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-UpJean-Pierre Villeneuve0Bernard Willems1Division of Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Luc, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, CanadaDivision of Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Luc, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, CanadaThe aim of treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon is to induce a transition from the replicative phase of the disease to a nonreplicative state, with loss of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, seroconversion from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive to anti-HBe antibody-positive, and normalization of liver enzymes. The authors’ experience in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with recombinant human interferon alpha-2b (5 MU/m2 subcutaneously three times/week for 16 weeks) is reported. Before treatment all patients had been positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBeAg for at least six months, had abnormal serum aminotransferases, had no evidence of hepatitis D or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and had compensated liver disease. Eleven of 22 patients (50%) responded to treatment with loss of HBeAg and appearance of anti-HBe antibodies, and normalization of serum aminotransferases within six months of interferon cessation. Patients were followed for 3.4±1.2 years after treatment. Ten of 11 responders remained negative for HBeAg and HBV-DNA; one patient relapsed and responded to a second course of interferon with loss of HBeAg and HBV-DNA. Seven of the 11 nonresponders underwent spontaneous (n=5) or retreatment-induced (n=2) seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe and loss of HBV-DNA during follow-up. The other four nonresponders remained positive for HBeAg and HBV-DNA; three of the four progressed to decompensated liver disease. It is concluded that interferon is an effective treatment of chronic hepatitis B in 50% of patients with features similar to those used as selection criteria in the present study. These criteria probably also identify patients who have a high likelihood of spontaneous HBeAg to anti-HBe seroconversion, and it is possible that the benefit of interferon is its acceleration of this seroconversion.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1996/683012 |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Pierre Villeneuve Bernard Willems Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology |
| title | Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up |
| title_full | Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up |
| title_fullStr | Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up |
| title_full_unstemmed | Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up |
| title_short | Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B with Interferon: Long Term Follow-Up |
| title_sort | treatment of chronic hepatitis b with interferon long term follow up |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1996/683012 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeanpierrevilleneuve treatmentofchronichepatitisbwithinterferonlongtermfollowup AT bernardwillems treatmentofchronichepatitisbwithinterferonlongtermfollowup |