LOW-DOSE ALPHA-INTERFERON TREATMENT IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION

Fifty eight patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV) were randomi sed in a prospectively controlled trial. Thirty patients were treated with 3 million units (MU) of interferon alfa-2b subcutaneously thrice weekly for four months. Twenty eight controls received no treatment. T he follow up period after treatment was six months. Twenty eight treat ed patients and 27 controls completed the protocol. One woman in the t reatment group showed a complete response, and eight other treated pat ients (32%) showed a partial response. Three patients in the control g roup (11%) lost hepatitis B e antigen and HBV-DNA spontaneously. This finding is statistically significant (p<0.05). The elimination of HBV markers from the serum was associated with a return to normal of serum aminotransferase activities. Reactivation of hepatitis was not observ ed after seroconversion.