RESOLUTION OF HEPATITIS-B VIREMIA IN A RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT TREATED WITH ALPHA-2B INTERFERON

A renal transplant patient developed symptomatic hepatitis after withd rawal from corticosteroids. Tests for hepatitis B e antigen and hepati tis B viral DNA were both positive prior to treatment with 1 million u nits alpha interferon three times weekly for 3 weeks followed by an in crease to 3 million units alpha interferon three times weekly for a to tal of 16 weeks, At the end of treatment, hepatitis had clinically res olved with conversion to a hepatitis B e antibody positive and hepatit is B e antigen and viral DNA negative state. The renal allograft funct ion remained excellent throughout the course of therapy with interfero n.