INTERFERON-ALFA-2B THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B

Twenty nine children (mean age 8.3 years, 18 boys, 11 girls) who had b iopsy proved chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) with active vir al replication were given a 16 week course of interferon alfa-2b treat ment (9 million units (MU)/m2, thrice weekly). Fourteen children (48%) showed persistent loss of HBV-DNA 8 months after the end of treatment ; 11 (38%) lost hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and two (7%) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Alanine aminotransferase activities returne d to normal in 12 children. Those who responded had significantly high er initial transaminase activities than those who did not (p<0.01) but similar serum HBV-DNA. Results were compared with the natural evoluti on of the disease in a group of 25 children (mean age 8.3 years) with identical initial mean serum HBV-DNA values, followed up during the sa me period. Two of these (8%) lost HBeAg and one (4%) HBsAg. The 23 rem aining control subjects had no decrease in serum HBV-DNA or in transam inase activities compared with values 1 year earlier. It is concluded that treatment with interferon alfa-2b in children may lead to inhibit ion of HBV replication similar to that described in adults, and may th us shorten disease evolution. Further studies are necessary to establi sh the best protocols and to identify those patients who are the most likely to respond to treatment.