[Effect of interferon on hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic active hepatitis]

The effect of interferon (IFN) on hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic active hepatitis is discussed. We can expect disappearance of DNA polymerase and HBeAG from serum by IFN administration. There seems to be no difference between IFN-alpha and IFN-beta in the effect on chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Female and those who with low pretreatment DNA polymerase activity are more susceptible to IFN treatment. With IFN alone, it is hard to expect a persistent disappearance of HBsAg. IFN therapy combined with other agents, such as adenine arabinoside, prednisolone, etc. must be considered in the future.