Effect of OK-432 on the HBeAg/Ab system in patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis

Abstract

An immunopotentiator, OK-432 which is known to have interferon inducing activity, was administered intramuscularly for 3 months and more to patients suffering from HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis. The therapeutic effect of the drug was evaluated mainly by changes in HBeAg/anti-HBe system in the patients treated with OK-432 compared to untreated historical controls.
Results: In the OK-432 group, over an average observation period of 20.1 months HBeAg disappeared in 27(64.3%) out of 42 patients, and seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe occurred in 14 (33.3%) of the patients. In the untreated control group, over an average observation period of 32.3 months HBeAg disappeared in 23(30.6%) out of 75 patients, and seroconversion from HBeAg to antiHBe occurred in 13(17.3%) of the patients.
These results indicate that OK-432 treatment improved the HBeAg/anti-HBe system in patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis.