VIRAL NUCLEOTIDE CHANGES IN ASYMPTOMATIC HEPATITIS-B CARRIERS UNDERGOING INTERFERON TREATMENT

Background: Interferon might induce mutation in regions of hepatitis B virus DNA that encode for immunologic target of cytotoxic T lymphocyt es. Aim: To investigate the short-term effect of steroid priming and i nterferon therapy on hepatitis B virus, we followed the nucleotide cha nges in the precore and core region of hepatitis B virus DNA in seven healthy asymptomatic carriers who underwent steroid priming followed b y recombinant alpha interferon for 3 months. Methods: Hepatitis B viru s DNA from serial sera of the patients were polymerase chain reaction- amplified, and the precore and core region directly sequenced and anal ysed. Results: Analysis revealed no serial changes in the hepatitis B virus nucleotide sequence in any of the patients. Conclusions: Steroid priming and short-term treatment with interferon in healthy asymptoma tic patients does not select for hepatitis B virus with mutations in t he precore and core region.