The Effect of Recombinant Interferon a-2b(Reaferon) in the Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Lee, Heon Ju; Suh, Jung Il; Jang, Byeong Ik

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluated the efficacy and safety of recombinant interferon (3-2b(Rea- feron"") which was made by Pseudomonas putida as nonpathogenic host, in the patients with chronic hepatitis B, recombinant interferon (3-2b was given to 20 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis who were HBs Ag(+) over 1 years and elevated serum-ALT for 6 months at least(treated group). Ten patients with chronic hepatitis B were managed with conservative treatment(control group).
METHODS
Interferon 9-2b(Reaferon) was given 3 times weekly by subcutaneous injection at a dose of 300MU for 12 week. The total doses were 49.1+14.6 vials (300MU/vial).
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in age, sex, serum ALT activity and HBV-DNA in the treated and control group before interferon therapy. Serum ALT activity was decreased significantly in treated group(194.45+147.6, 63.94+91.74IU/L: before and after therapy) compared to control group(p<0.05). HBV-DNA was markedly decreased in treated group (23.33+28.7, 9.42+16.6pg/ml before and after therapy) after interferon therapy(p<0.05). The rate of HBe Ag/anti-HBe seroconversion was 50% in treated group, 10% in control group at after therapy(p<0.05). but HBe Ag became positive again in half cases of seroconversion(50%) in treated group at 2 months after therapy. Side effects such as myalgia, fatigability, mild fever and/ or chilling were frequently noted. But, tolerable.
CONCLUSIONS
The administration of recombinant interferon 9-2b in the patients with chronic hepatitis B seems to be effective, safe treatment method, But further studies with large number of patients are necessary to evaluate the duration and the dose of interferon.