OBJECTIVETo investigate the impacts of interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha-2b) on the oxidative stress states in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with different genotypes.

METHODSThirty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B and 18 healthy volunteers as a control were enrolled in this present study. In control and patients group, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, serum total antioxidative stress capacity (TAC) were measured spectrophotometrically. After the therapy with interferon alpha-2b at the dose of 300 million units via intramuscular injection thrice a week for 12 weeks, these parameters were measured again in the patient group. The genotypes of hepatitis B virus were detected by polymerase chain reaction and hybridization. The effective group was defined as the patients with complete response and partial response.

RESULTSThe elevated concentrations of MDA and impaired levels of TAC in the patients with CHB were observed as compared to the healthy controls (P < 0.05 for both). There were no significant differences in serum levels of MDA and TAC in CHB patients with various genotypes (P > 0.05). The serum levels of MDA after the treatment with IFN alpha-2b were significantly lower than the pretreatment levels (P < 0.05), which even returned to the normal concentration (P > 0.05) in the effective group. There were significant increases in the TAC after the IFN alpha-2b therapy in the effective group. However, the significant differences in the TAC levels before and after the INFalpha-2b treatment were not observed in the non-responsive group.

CONCLUSIONThe oxidative stress could be improved with IFN alpha-2b treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients. The results suggest that antioxidant treatment for chronic hepatitis B patients may help improve the effect of anti-virus therapy.