K. Katayama et al., Clinical efficacy and immunological effects of weekly administration of interferon-beta in patients with type B chronic hepatitis, HEPATOL RES, 14(3), 1999, pp. 212-222
The efficacy of weekly administration of interferon (IFN)-beta in patients
with type B chronic active hepatitis positive for e antigen was investigate
d. Subjects were 27 patients. Thirteen (Group A) were assigned to a treatme
nt group given three million units (MU) of IFN-beta three times a week For
11 weeks. Fourteen (Group B) were given 6 MU of IFN-beta once a week for 16
weeks. During the study period, the production of tumor necrosis factor (T
NF)-alpha and IFN-gamma of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assayed.
By the 12th month of this protocol, e antigen became negative and continue
d to be negative for at least 6 months in three from both groups (sustained
responders). The e antigen or DNA polymerase activity became transiently n
egative in seven of Group A and in eight of Group B (transient responders).
The other patients did not respond (non-responders). In the sustained and
transient responders, TNF-alpha production from seven patients and IFN-gamm
a production from sis patients increased to more than twice the pretreatmen
t levels. In contrast. the production of these cytokines did not significan
tly change in non-responders. These results demonstrated that weekly admini
stration of IFN-beta call also be effective for promoting clearance of hepa
titis B virus and suggested that the enhancement of spontaneous production
of these cytokines might contribute to the clearance of the virus. However,
the factor needed for a sustained response remains to be clarified. (C) 19
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