INTERFERON TREATMENT IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B

Several trials for chronic hepatitis B in children have shown the usef ulness of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in eliminating hepatitis B viru s (HBV) replication, by an improvement in the liver damage. Optimal do ses of IFN-alpha are 10 MU/m(2) of body surface, three times a week fo r 24 weeks. With this schedule, clearance of HBV-DNA was achieved in 5 8% of treated children. In nonresponder children, because of the progr ession of the disease, there is a need to try new antiviral approaches . In a pilot study, 11 nonresponder children were retreated with IFN-a lpha 10 MU/m(2) body surface, three times a week for 24 weeks. At the end of treatment, 27% of the children had cleared serum HBV-DNA. Thus, retreatment has some benefit in nonresponder children. (C) Journal of Hepatology.