Published online Oct 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.iSuppl2.99
Revised: August 3, 1998
Accepted: August 25, 1998
Published online: October 15, 1998
AIM: To study the efficacy of interferon alpha treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis and combined with other type virus.
METHODS: From 1996 to 1998, about 44 cases were diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis B, about 11 cases, combined with other type hepatitis virus infection, 30 cases as control, established on the basis of abnormal serum ALT (more than 1.5 times than normal value) for at least 6 mo and positiv e serologic makers of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg and HBeAg), and positive HBV DNA detected by polymers chain reaction patients were treated with 300 mu of interferon alpha three times a week for 6 mo.
RESULTS: Of 85 patients, male: female was 5:1, averaging 40.3 years in age (26-61) 44 cases were only with hepatitis B, 11 cases were with com plex infection. In 55 cases who had interferon treatment, 23 positive HBeAg had seroconversion of HBeAg to negative (41.8%), 5 of the controls were converted to negative (16.7%) (P < 0.01); 18 HBV-DNA positive to negative (32.7%), 1 of the controls to negative (3%) (P < 0.01); 14 HBsAg positive to negative (25.5%), 3 of the controls to negative (1%) (P < 0.01). All the results had significant difference. In 44 cases of chronic Hepatitis B, 23 cases positive HBeAg had seroconversion of HBeAg to negative (51%) and in the 11 cases of complex infection the number was 0, (P < 0.01). The result had significant difference. The ALT was 127.9 ± 10.2 μ/L before treatment. 20 cases (36.4%) had increased ALT after treatment for a short time; the average ALT was 207.9 ± 10.2 μ/L. Half a year after treatment, 8 cases (14.5%) had Habeas positive again, 5 cases (9.1 %) had HBVDNA positive, again.
CONCLUSION: Interferon treatment on Hepatitis B and combined with other type Hepatitis virus infection can increase cure rate. (HBeAg negative conversion rate was 41.8%, HBV-DNA was 32.7%). Interferon alpha treatment for chronic Hepatitis B had higher efficacy than the complex infection, HBeAg negative conversion rate was 51.0%, HBV-DNA was 31.0%. The time for treatment is in the beginning when the liver function gets better. The liver functions will get worse within a short period of time after treatment. Half a year after treatment, some cases reverse.