[Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon alpha-2b]

In a prospective randomized trial 58 patients (46 men, 12 women; mean age 41 [18-65] years) with histologically proven chronic hepatitis B and demonstration of HBs antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA in serum were randomly divided into two groups: 30 patients were treated with recombinant alpha 2b interferon. The interferon was administered subcutaneously, 3 x 10(6) IU, three times weekly for four months. 28 patients served as untreated controls. There was a six-month post-treatment follow-up. Two patients in the treatment group and one in the control group had to be excluded later. In the treatment group one patient responded completely (HBs antigen, HBe antigen and HBV-DNA negative) and eight partially (HBe antigen and HBV-DNA negative). In three patients of the control group, HBe antigen and HBV DNA were no longer demonstrated (P less than 0.05). The loss of HBV features was associated with normalization of serum transaminases activity. Reactivation of liver inflammation after seroconversion was not observed.