Abstract
Human α and β interferon was evaluated as treatment for viral and malignant diseases.
Lympocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis B have decreased activity to produce interferon stimulating in vitro. Five patients with chronic hepatitis B were injected daily with human α interferon, in doses ranging from 100, 000 to 1, 000, 000 units/day. Total amounts injected were from 15, 400, 000 to 96, 000, 000 units. DNA polymerase activity was measured in three from these five patients. After interferon treatment, DNA activity decreased in all these three cases. Hepatitis B antigen was assayed using RPHA method. In only one case, HBs Antigen became negative. HBc antigen in liver tissue became negative in one case examined immunofluorescence technique. Disappearance of e antigen was observed in two of five cases. Before and after treatment, liver biopsy was done. In two of these five cases, marked improvement (disappearance of cell necrosis) could be recognized. But suppressive effect wa transient. Interferon therapy was tolerated in all patients. Low grade fever developed during course of therapy. All cases had no elevation of transaminase by therapy. All five patients did not show bone marrow suppresion.
Phase I study of human β interferon against malignant tumors (collaborative study) started recently. Eighteen cases already are checking about effect of interferon, only one case injected topically showed very remarkable diminution of size of tumor.
