A Pilot Study of beta-Interferon for Treatment of CHB

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VIRAL HEPATITIS B- A Pilot Study of beta-Interferon for Treatment of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B who Failed to Respond to alpha-Interferon ¤

R. Muñoz (1), G. Castellano (1), I. Fernández (1), M.V. Álvarez (1), M.L. Manzano (1), M. S. Marcos (1), B. Cuenca (2), J.A. Solís-Herruzo (1)

(1) Department of Gastroenterology, Universidad Complutense, Hospital Universitario `Madrid, Spain
(2) Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario, Getafe, Madrid, Spain

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. (J. Hepatol, 37 , 655-659, 2002)