Study of Long Term Follow - up of Interferon Therapy in Chronic Viral Hepatitis - in 222 cases during 127 weeks -

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 3(3); 1997 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 1997;3(3): 241-251.

원저 : 만성 바이러스 간염에서 인터페론 치료의 효과에 대한 장기 추적 관찰 - 만성 바이러스 간염 222 예의 127 주간 추적관찰 - ( Original Articles : Study of Long Term Follow - up of Interferon Therapy in Chronic Viral Hepatitis - in 222 cases during 127 week

Study of Long Term Follow - up of Interferon Therapy in Chronic Viral Hepatitis - in 222 cases during 127 weeks -

Jin Il Kim , Jong Soon Na , Choon Sang Bang , Soo Heon Park , Joon Yeol Han , Jeong Min Suh , Jae Kwang Kim , Young Seok Lee , Kyu Won Chung , Hee Sik Sun

ABSTRACT

Background/Aims
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of interferon in chrcnic viral hepatitis, interferon was administered to 222 patients with biopsy proven chronic viral hepatitis. Methods: 32 patients were excluded and the 190 patients was included, 149 men and 41 women. Average age was 34.4+-8.93 (14-67) years. 161 cases had HBsAg and HBeAg, and 29 cases had anti-HCV Ab. Three millicn units of interferon beta were given to 37 patients with chronic B hepatitis, daily for one month Six million units of interferon alpha were given to 124 patients with chronic B hepatitis and 29 patients with chr onic C hepatitis, three times a week for six months. Results: 1) Out of 124 patients with clronic hepatitis B treated with a-interferon, HBeAg negativity for more tban six months was observed in 25 patients (20.2%), and defined as responder group. The 23 patients (18.5%) were defined as probable responder, because of persistent seroregativity of HBeAg for the last 6 months, despite of fluctuation of sercangativity during the follow-up. The 29 patients (23.4%) were defined as probable non-responder because of recurrence of HBeAg, which once was cleared but reappeared during last 6 months. But there was no seroconversion in 47 cases (37.9%). The overall response rate was 38.7%. 2) Out of 37 patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with B-interferon, 7 patients (18.9%) were responder, 6 patients (16.2%) probable responder, 12 patients (32.4%) probable non-responder, 12 patients (32.4%) non-responder. The overall response rate was 35.1%. 3) Out of 29 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with a-interferon, normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level for mcrre than six months was observed in 9 patients (31.0%), and defined as responder group. The 3 patients (10.3%) were defined as probable responder, because ALT levels fluctuated but wes normalized during the last 6 months. The 5 patients (17.2%) were defined as pobable ncn-mponder, because of persistent fluctuation of ALT levels during the last 6manths, which once were normalized but reelevated. In 12 patients (41.4%), there had never been a normalization of ALT level. The overall resporate was 41.1%. 4) The period of HBeAg seropositivity was 1.33 times longer than the period of seronegativity. The faster the seroconvmion, the more the tendency to be a respander for the patients with chronic hepatitis B. Conclusion: Interferon therapy may be effective in some cleonic viral hepatitis. (Korean J Hepatol 1997;6:241 251)

KeyWords: HBV , HCV , Interferon