Premium
Thymalfasin (thymosin‐alpha 1) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Author(s) -
LIAW YUNFAN
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03633.x
Subject(s) - medicine , adefovir , lamivudine , alpha interferon , immunology , chronic hepatitis , hbeag , thymosin , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , interferon alfa , adverse effect , immune system , combination therapy , virology , interferon , virus , hbsag
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious clinical problem because of its worldwide distribution and potential adverse sequelae. Globally, there are approximately 350 million people infected with chronic HBV, 75% of whom live in the Asia–Pacific region. Interferon‐alfa and direct antiviral agents such as lamivudine and adefovir are effective in the therapy of chronic HBV infection but the efficacy is far from satisfactory, particularly in perinatally infected patients, patients with lower ALT levels and those with HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B. Thymalfasin (thymosin‐alpha1) is an immunoregulatory agent able to enhance Th1 response. It has been shown to trigger maturational events in lymphocytes, to augment T‐cell function, and to promote reconstitution of immune defects. Studies are underway in both monotherapy and combination therapy with thymalfasin and interferon and results are promising. © 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd