RESULTS OF TREATMENT WITH THYMOPENTIN IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B

In a study using thymopentin as a possible therapeutic agent in chroni c active hepatitis B, 8 outpatients were treated. During a first treat ment period of 11 to 22 weeks with 100 mg of thymopentin being adminis tered s. c. 1-3 times per week, the ASAT activity decreased from 176 /- 99 to 15 +/- 3 (SD) U/I (p < 0.01); HBe-AG and HBV-DNA showed seroc onversion. Following either discontinuation or dose reduction oi thymo pentin therapy, a reactivation of the disease necessitated a second tr eatment period in 4 patients and a third one in 2 patients; these pati ents thus became their own control. Within 7 to 19 weeks, the transami nases returned again to either normal or almost normal values, and the viral replication markers seroconverted about the same timer The foll ow-up time span over which 7 patients continued to receive thymopentin was 130 +/- 82 (SD) weeks with normal ASAT activities in 6 cases and moderately raised activities in 2 cases. Histological re-examination o f the liver revealed a clear-cut reversal of inflammation and cell nec rosis.