Interferon treatment in acute hepatitis B infection with prolonged course

Interferon treatment (3.0 x 10(6) units of human leucocyte interferon) was initiated in a 64-year-old woman with acute hepatitis B infection showing a prolonged course. A decline in serum bilirubin, HBsAg and DNA polymerase activity started during the 10-day period of interferon treatment, and 4 weeks after start of treatment the liver function tests were quite normal. It is possible that the interferon treatment had a beneficial influence on the clinical course of the illness and may be worth trying also in acute fulminant cases of viral hepatitis.