Clinical efficacy and immunological effects of weekly administration of interferon-beta in patients with type B chronic hepatitis

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 99 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.