Effect of 28 consecutive days lymphoblastoid interferon (alpha-IFN) administration on hepatitis B virus related...

Eight HBsAg, HBeAg, DNA-p, HBV-DNA-positive patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis were treated with human lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) given for 28 consecutive days at a dosage ranging from 2.5 to 7.5 MU/m2 i.m.; 10 patients were used as controls. Our results suggest that certain chronic carriers may respond to the treatment with this agent. In fact, the treated patients showed a permanent inhibition of HBV replication sooner and in higher percentage with respect to untreated patients (37.5% vs 20%). IFN administration does not induce any important changes in the immunoregulatory wetwork, but is able to increase significantly the cytolytic activity of NK cells in the patients who respond to the therapy with a permanent inhibition of HBV replication.