[Changes in the interferon status of patients with viral hepatitis B when genetically engineered alpha 2-interferon...

The status of the interferon (IF) system in patients with acute viral hepatitis B (AVHB) was studied, and its importance as a criterion in the evaluation of the effectiveness of interferon therapy was demonstrated. The clinical study of alpha 2-IF was done in 152 patients with AVHB of moderate severity. The preparation was inoculated intramuscularly or intravenously in a dose of 1 X 10(6) IU twice daily for 5-10 days, a course dose being 10,000,000-20,000,000 IU. Considerable disorders in the functioning of the IF system and significant differences in the interferon status of patients in the study and control groups were demonstrated. The influence of alpha 2-IF on the time course of the interferon status depended on the clinical variants of the disease and the time of the preparation administration. The parameters of the IF system correlated with clinical manifestations of the disease and duration of hepatitis B virus persistence in the blood. This made it possible to use them as a criterion in the evaluation of the therapeutic effectiveness of alpha 2-IF.