STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a short course of prednisone followed by recombinant interferon treatment in patients with chronic type B hepatitis. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial with a 5-month treatment phase and a 9-month observation period after treatment. SETTING:Two referral-based university-affiliated medical centers. PATIENTS: Thirty-nine clinically stable patients with chronic type B hepatitis, all of whom were positive for hepatitis B antigen, hepatitis B virus-associated-DNA (HBV-DNA), and DNA polymerase for at least 6 months before entry. Patients included 20 heterosexuals and 19 male homosexuals. INTERVENTIONS:Eighteen patients were treated with a 6-week tapered regimen of prednisone, followed by 90 days treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2b; 21 patients were untreated controls. Paired liver biopsy specimens of 27 patients (pretreatment and 9 months after treatment) were blindly evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Nine treated patients had a sustained loss of HBV-DNA. In addition, eight treated patients lost hepatitis B e antigen and four became negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). When compared with controls the differences were statistically significant for clearance of HBV-DNA and HBsAg (P = 0.035 and 0.037, respectively). Treated patients who had a sustained loss of HBV-DNA had higher initial alanine aminotransferase lower initial DNA and DNA polymerase levels, and were more frequently heterosexual. Patients who responded to treatment with the disappearance of hepatitis B e antigen and HBV-DNA hadnormal liver function tests and markedly improved liver histology during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The immunologic priming provided by a short course of prednisone used with alpha interferon may be an effective treatment for selected patients with chronic type B hepatitis.
RCT Entities:
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a short course of prednisone followed by recombinant interferon treatment in patients with chronic type B hepatitis. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial with a 5-month treatment phase and a 9-month observation period after treatment. SETTING: Two referral-based university-affiliated medical centers. PATIENTS: Thirty-nine clinically stable patients with chronic type B hepatitis, all of whom were positive for hepatitis B antigen, hepatitis B virus-associated-DNA (HBV-DNA), and DNA polymerase for at least 6 months before entry. Patients included 20 heterosexuals and 19 male homosexuals. INTERVENTIONS: Eighteen patients were treated with a 6-week tapered regimen of prednisone, followed by 90 days treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2b; 21 patients were untreated controls. Paired liver biopsy specimens of 27 patients (pretreatment and 9 months after treatment) were blindly evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Nine treated patients had a sustained loss of HBV-DNA. In addition, eight treated patients lost hepatitis B e antigen and four became negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). When compared with controls the differences were statistically significant for clearance of HBV-DNA and HBsAg (P = 0.035 and 0.037, respectively). Treated patients who had a sustained loss of HBV-DNA had higher initial alanine aminotransferase lower initial DNA and DNA polymerase levels, and were more frequently heterosexual. Patients who responded to treatment with the disappearance of hepatitis B e antigen and HBV-DNA had normal liver function tests and markedly improved liver histology during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The immunologic priming provided by a short course of prednisone used with alpha interferon may be an effective treatment for selected patients with chronic type B hepatitis.
Authors: T Wölfel; P Schirmacher; J Schlaak; P Knolle; H P Dienes; W Dippold; K H Meyer zum Büschenfelde; G Gerken Journal: Clin Investig Date: 1994-12