Abstract
Interferon therapy has been reported to have beneficial effect mainly on HBe-antigen-positive chronic hepatitis type B. However, some patients with anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis type B had positive DNAP and HBV DNA in their serum as a marker of HBV replication. Several investigators suggested that interferon therapy might be also effective in such patients.
We treated 2 patients who had anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis type B with beta interferon in total doses of 84 million units and 102 million units respectively. Both patients had positive DNAP, HBV DNA in their serum and elevated serum aminotransferase levels. Biopsy specimens in 2 patients obtained before beta interferon therapy showed chronic active hepatitis in hepatic histology.
In these patients, elevated serum aminotransferase levels decreased and DNAP, HBV DNA disappeared from their serum during beta interferon therapy although in one patient DNAP and HBV DNA became positive transiently after beta interferon therapy. These findings implied that further follow-up study was necessary to decide whether the effect of interferon therapy was transient or not. In conclusion, these preliminary findings, although not adequately controlled, suggest that beta interferon therapy may be effective in controlling the disease activity in patients with anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis type B.
