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Differential effects of fibroblast and leucocyte interferon in HBsAg positive chronic active hepatitis
Author(s) -
WEIMAR W.,
HEIJTINK R. A.,
SCHALM S. W.,
SCHELLEKENS H.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1979.tb01682.x
Subject(s) - interferon , immunology , hepatitis , medicine , hbsag , fibroblast , virology , chills , biology , hepatitis b virus , virus , in vitro , biochemistry
. Six patients with hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen positive chronic active hepatitis, and elevated hepatitis B specific DNA polymerase activity were treated sequentially with fibroblast and leucocyte interferon. Fibroblast interferon induced a fall in serum transaminase activities in all patients, whereas a consistent decline in DNA polymerase activity was observed during leucocyte interferon administration only. After treatment one patient remained persistently DNA polymerase and hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen negative, whereas relapse to initial values occurred in others. Side effects included severe but reversible granulocytopenia, and chills responding to promethazine treatment. The differential biological activity of fibroblast and leucocyte interferon in our patients coincides with their non‐identity in in vitro studies.