The effect of human leucocyte interferon on hepatitis B viral infection in patients with chronic hepatitis

Abstract

Eight patients with chronic HBsAg positive hepatitis were treated with human leucocyte interferon. Interferon was given as a daily dose of 6-10×106 international units for 10 to 14 days on alternate days. The total per patients varied between 38 and 75×106 international units. In all eight patients the level of DNA-polymerase fell during therapy. After treatment four patients remained persistently DNA polymerase negative, whereas relapse to initial values occured in others. In three patients HBeAg became undetectable and anti-HBe appeared in two patients. Although the data suggest that responses may be more frequent in interferon treated patients, spontanous remission must make us cautions in our interpretation. The data obtained in these studies showed an effect of interferon administration on indices of hepatitis-B virus infection in chronic hepatitis.