alpha-Interferon therapy in patients with chronic active hepatitis B: immunological profile

The effect of interferon-alpha 2b (IFN) on viral markers, liver function and immunological parameters (CD3, CD4, CD8, B, NK, II-2 receptor and HLA-DR positive cells in blood and T cell proliferation) was studied in 9 patients with HBsAg(+), HBeAg(-) chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Three patients were HBV-DNA(+) and 6 also had complications of cirrhosis of the liver (LC). IFN was given at a dose of 2.5 mil IU x 3 weekly for 6 months. One patient with LC developed hepatic coma and died 2 months later. Severe leukopenia limited duration of treatment to 2 and 4 months in another 2 patients. By the end of treatment, the 8 patients were in good clinical status, SGOT, SGPT levels and prothrombin time were decreased, HBV-DNA became negative in 2 out of 3 patients and proportions of CD3, CD4, B, NK and activated cells were significantly decreased. When compared to controls, NK and activated cells were significantly increased in patients before and were gradually decreased by the end of treatment. In contrast, T transformed cells were significantly decreased before and ranged in normal levels by the end of treatment. These findings suggest that immunomodulatory activity possibly contributes to the beneficial effect of IFN therapy.