All issues > Volume 33(7); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(7):915-922. Published online July 31, 1990.

The Effect of Low-Dosage Alpha-Interferon Therapy in Children with Chronic Active Hepatitis B.

Hee Kyung Kim¹, Sung Min Choi¹, Cheol Woo Ko¹, Kun Soo Lee¹, Ja Hoon Koo¹, Doo Hong Ahn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea

Received: February 27, 1990;  Accepted: March 20, 1990.

Abstract

A clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of low-dosage recombinant a-interferon therapy in children with HBs Ag and HBe Ag positive chronic active hepatitis. Studied patients consist of 7 biopsy-proven children (aged 6.5-11.5 yr). After 16 weeks of therapy, following results were obtained. Out of 7 HBe Ag positive cases, 5 cases (71.4%) were converted to HBe Ag negative state. One of two HBV-DNA positive cases was converted to HBV-DNA negative and the other one showed decreased in titer. None showed any change of HBs Antigenecity. Six patients who had high level of serum transaminase before therapy showed normal range levels after completion of therapy. Cellular immune indices (total T, T4, T8 cells and T4/T8 ratio) before therapy showed decreased total T, increased T4, decreased T8 cells and increased T4/T8 ratio. These changes of cellular immune indices were statistically significant compared to control. (p<0.05) In summary, it can be said that short-term effect of recombinant a-interferon therapy in children with chronic active hepatitis B was excellent. However, longterm effect of this therapy shoud be evaluated on more prolonged period of time.

Keywords :Chronic Active Hepatitis B, Alpha-Interferon