Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2003 Sep;6(2):140-151.

Long Term Follow Up of Interferon-alpha Treatment in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B

• Baek SY
• Eom JH
• Chung KS

Abstract

PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate the long term efficacy and positive predictive factors of interferon-alpha treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B.
METHODS
The study population included 113 children who received interferon therapy between May 1982 and July 2002 (20 years) for chronic hepatitis B in Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1 and the mean age at diagnosis was 11.1+/-4.1 years old. Response to treatment was defined as normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), disappearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA Eighty two children responded while 32 did not. Interferon-alpha was given intramuscularly for 6 months at a dosage of 3x106 unit, 3 times weekly. In relapsed cases, lamivudine or interferon retreatment was done.
RESULTS
Seroconversion rate was 77.0% in terms of HBeAg, 74.3% in terms of HBV-DNA, and 80.5% in terms of ALT normalization after treatment. Seroconversion rate of both HBeAg and HBV-DNA was 72.6%. Analyzed by life table method, the effect of the treatment had been maintained over 10 years after cessation of therapy. Pre-treatment ALT level was the only significant positive predictive factor of response. Eleven cases (13.4%) relapsed, and 2 out of 3 showed response when treated with lamivudine and 1 out of 3 with interferon retreatment.
CONCLUSION
Interferon-alpha showed significant efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in our study. Further studies about the effect of interferon therapy on complications of hepatitis such as hepatocarcinoma, cirrhosis are warranted.

Keyword

Children; Chronic hepatitis B; Interferon-alpha; Predictive factor; Lamivudine

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Child*
Diagnosis
Female
Fibrosis
Follow-Up Studies*
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hepatitis B, Chronic*
Hepatitis, Chronic*
Humans
Interferon-alpha*
Interferons
Lamivudine
Life Tables
Male
Pediatrics
Retreatment
Alanine Transaminase
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Interferon-alpha
Interferons
Lamivudine