L Deng1, Y Zhou, X Peng, H Deng, Y Deng, J Yao. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of interferon alpha and to study the relationship between the anti-fibrotic effect and the efficacy of anti-virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon alpha. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B were treated with interferon alpha. Before, during and after the treatment, the levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen (PC-III), type IV collagen(IV-C), laminin (LN) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) were measured as the markers of hepatic fibrosis. Needle biopsy sections of the liver taken before and at the end of IFN treatment were assessed and compared according to the modified histological activity index (HAI) and hepatic fibrosis (HF) scoring system. RESULTS: In IFN group, the levels of HA, PC-III, IV-C, LN, and TGF-beta 1 after treatment were all significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). The levels of HA, PC-III, and TGF-beta 1 after treatment were significantly lower in IFN group than in control one. HAI scores decreased from 9.3+/-3.2 to 6.2 +/-2.1 and HF scores decreased from 7.5+/-2.2 to 5.1+/-1.8 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of hepatic fibrosis closely related to the efficacy of anti-virus. Interferon alpha therapy is effective for hepatic fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of interferon alpha and to study the relationship between the anti-fibrotic effect and the efficacy of anti-virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon alpha. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B were treated with interferon alpha. Before, during and after the treatment, the levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen (PC-III), type IV collagen(IV-C), laminin (LN) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) were measured as the markers of hepatic fibrosis. Needle biopsy sections of the liver taken before and at the end of IFN treatment were assessed and compared according to the modified histological activity index (HAI) and hepatic fibrosis (HF) scoring system. RESULTS: In IFN group, the levels of HA, PC-III, IV-C, LN, and TGF-beta 1 after treatment were all significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). The levels of HA, PC-III, and TGF-beta 1 after treatment were significantly lower in IFN group than in control one. HAI scores decreased from 9.3+/-3.2 to 6.2 +/-2.1 and HF scores decreased from 7.5+/-2.2 to 5.1+/-1.8 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of hepatic fibrosis closely related to the efficacy of anti-virus. Interferon alpha therapy is effective for hepatic fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B.