A pilot study of β-interferon for treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B who failed to respond to α-interferon

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 655 - 659
• Main Authors: Muñoz, Raquel, Castellano, Gregorio, Fernández, Inmaculada, Álvarez, Maria Victoria, Manzano, Maria Luisa, Marcos, Maria Soledad, Cuenca, Beatriz, Solı́s-Herruzo, José A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.11.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic hepatitis B; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; Hepatitis B virus - drug effects; Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy; Humans; Immunomodulators; Interferon-alpha - administration & dosage; Interferon-beta - administration & dosage; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pilot Projects; Safety; Treatment Outcome; β-Interferon therapy; Chronic hepatitis B; β-Interferon therapy; Safety; Human; Treatment resistance; Alpha interferon; Cytokine; Hepatic disease; Statistical study; Biological activity; Infection; Viral hepatitis B; Chronic; Viral disease; Immunotherapy; Beta interferon; Digestive diseases
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8278(02)00261-1

Background/Aims: Alpha-interferon achieves persistent loss of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in about 30–40% of patients with chronic hepatitis B. In non-responder patients, the disease may progress leading to complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of beta-interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis B who did not respond to one course of alpha-interferon. Methods: Twenty nine alpha-interferon-non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis B (11 hepatitis B e antigen, HBeAg-positive; 18 HBeAg-negative) were treated with 6 million units beta-interferon five times a week for 24 weeks. The post-treatment follow-up lasted for 48 weeks. Results: At the end of treatment, 38% of patients (18% HBeAg-positive; 50% HBeAg-negative) had normal serum aminotransferase levels and negative serum HBV DNA. At the end of follow-up, HBV DNA was no longer detectable in serum in 21% of patients (18% HBeAg-positive; 22% HBeAg-negative). Beta-interferon was well tolerated and safe. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that beta-interferon therapy is effective and safe in the retreatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B who had not responded to a previous alpha-interferon cycle.