Treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection with IFN-alpha: Long term results and influence of delta superinfection

Senturk H., Mert A., Tabak F., Sander E., Akdogan M., Ozdemir S., ...More

10th Mediterranean Congress of Chemotherapy, Antalya, Turkey, 20 - 25 October 1996, pp.391-395 identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume:
  • City: Antalya
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.391-395
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the long-term effect of interferon-alfa(Ifh-alpha.) on chronic type B hepatitis. We treated 39 patients with Ifn-alpha 2a for 4-6 moths with various doses. The patients were followed-up for, at least, 18 months untreated:. Tell of 39(26%) were carrying antibodies against delta agent. In 14 of 29 delta negatives, HBeAg was present in circulation. The other 15 were HBV-DNA +ve, and HBeAg -ve. Five of 14(36%) HBe +ves, and 8 of 15(53%)HBe -ves responded. None of the 10 anti-delta +ves responded. 2/5(40%) from HBe + group, and 4/8(50%) from HBe -ve group relapsed. The overall sustained response rate was 21% in tile HBe +ve, and 27% in tile HBe -ve group. It was concluded that Ifn-alpha treatment achieves all overall sustained response rate of 24% in chronic type B hepatitis uncomplicated by delta agent. Patients with delta superinfection, invariably, do not respond to conventional treatment.