Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, cilt.10, sa.3, ss.236-242, 1999 (Scopus)
Efficacy of recombinant interferon alpha therapy and the factors influencing the outcome of the therapeutic response was evaluated in a prospective, controlled study in 42 chronic hepatitis B patients between 1991-1998. IFN alfa (4.5-5 MU/day) was administered five times weekly for 6 months. Twenty-four patients not treated for various reasons served as controls. Pretreatment liver biopsies were performed and hepatic necroinflammation was scored. After six months of therapy, normal levels of ALT and clearance of HBV DNA was considered as post-treatment response. Furthermore, post-treatment response continuity for another six months was termed as sustained response. Post-treatment response was found in 45% of cases and sustained response was found in 26% within an average follow-up period of 16±12.4 months (6 to 55 months). At the end of follow up, HBeAg seroconversion was noted in 15% of cases and loss of HBsAg in 4.7% of cases. A decrease of ≥2 scores in the total histologic activity according to Knodell scoring system was noted in the control liver biopsies of 46% of patients after treatment. In the control group, however, only one patient showed loss of HBeAg (4.1%) while no patient showed loss of HBsAg. Sustained response rates were significantly higher in cases with a shorter duration of infection, high ALT levels prior to treatment, pre-treatment liver histopathology signs of active necroinflammation and in anti HBe positive cases (p=0.0433*). There were no side effects that required cessation of treatment. Although interferon is currently the most popular treatment in chronic hepatitis B infection, alternative treatment methods are still required due to its high cost and low response rates.