[Twenty-four weeks administration of interferon-alpha for chronic hepatitis B]

Twenty-four weeks administration of interferon-alpha has been performed to 23 patients of chronic hepatitis B. As the result, complete or partial responders reached to 47.8%, so that it was considered to be effective therapy for chronic hepatitis B. By the investigation of behaviors of HBV-DNA, the reduction of HBV-DNA below 4 x 10(2) copy/ml during the administration of interferon was considered to be one essential factor for inducing the effectiveness of interferon. Though lamivudine, which has a strong anti-viral effect, has been permitted, interferon is still considered as the good indication for relative young patients who do not have advanced hepatic fibrosis. As a newly strategy for the patients with high titer of HBV-DNA or breakthrough hepatitis, the combination therapy of interferon and lamivudine will be expected.