Interferon therapy of Turkish patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of alpha interferon therapy in Turkish indivi duals with chronic hepatitis B virus infection was examined. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-one patients (54 males and 7 females) were studied betwe en 1992 and 1996. Their mean age was 33.4 years (range: 20-57). Each was tr eated with 4.5 million international units interferon alpha 3 times a week for 24 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and hepatitis B v irus markers (HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and HBV DNA) were monitored. A liver biopsy was obtained before and 6 months after the termination of interferon therapy. RESULTS: Before treatment, the serum ALT level was elevated in all 61 subje cts. Six months after the termination of therapy, 23 (38%) had a normal ser um ALT level. In all patients, before the start of therapy and 6 months aft er the termination of therapy, HBsAg was detectable. In 36 (59%), HBeAg was present and anti-HBe was not detectable in serum before the initiation of therapy. In 12 (33%), the serum was negative for HBeAg and positive for ant i-HBe 6 months after the termination of therapy. HBV DNA was detectable in all serum samples before the onset of therapy and disappeared in 14 (23%) p atients, and continued to be undetectable 6 months after the termination of interferon therapy. Histological improvement defined by an improvement in the Knodell score of 2 points or more was observed in 38 (62%). CONCLUSIONS: Interferon therapy eliminates serum markers of active hepatiti s B virus infection (eAg and HBV DNA) and is associated with histological i mprovement in 30-60% of Turkish patients with chronic HBV infection. Interf eron therapy did not eliminate sAg from the serum, and the histologic impro vement achieved was often incomplete.