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

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

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.