Long Term Follow Up of Interferon-alpha Treatment in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B.
- Author:
Seoung Yon BAEK
1
;
Ji Hyun EOM
;
Ki Sup CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kschung58@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Children;
Chronic hepatitis B;
Interferon-alpha;
Predictive factor;
Lamivudine
- MeSH:
Alanine Transaminase;
Child*;
Diagnosis;
Female;
Fibrosis;
Follow-Up Studies*;
Hepatitis;
Hepatitis B e Antigens;
Hepatitis B, Chronic*;
Hepatitis, Chronic*;
Humans;
Interferon-alpha*;
Interferons;
Lamivudine;
Life Tables;
Male;
Pediatrics;
Retreatment
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
2003;6(2):140-151
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate the long term efficacy and positive predictive factors of interferon-alpha treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: The study population included 113 children who received interferon therapy between May 1982 and July 2002 (20 years) for chronic hepatitis B in Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1 and the mean age at diagnosis was 11.1+/-4.1 years old. Response to treatment was defined as normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), disappearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA Eighty two children responded while 32 did not. Interferon-alpha was given intramuscularly for 6 months at a dosage of 3x106 unit, 3 times weekly. In relapsed cases, lamivudine or interferon retreatment was done. RESULTS: Seroconversion rate was 77.0% in terms of HBeAg, 74.3% in terms of HBV-DNA, and 80.5% in terms of ALT normalization after treatment. Seroconversion rate of both HBeAg and HBV-DNA was 72.6%. Analyzed by life table method, the effect of the treatment had been maintained over 10 years after cessation of therapy. Pre-treatment ALT level was the only significant positive predictive factor of response. Eleven cases (13.4%) relapsed, and 2 out of 3 showed response when treated with lamivudine and 1 out of 3 with interferon retreatment. CONCLUSION: Interferon-alpha showed significant efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in our study. Further studies about the effect of interferon therapy on complications of hepatitis such as hepatocarcinoma, cirrhosis are warranted.
