Efficacy of low-dose alpha interferon therapy in HBV-related chronic liver disease in Asian Indians: a randomized controlled trial

Interferon therapy has been shown to be effective in Western patients with chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B viral infection, but not in Asian Chinese. Its efficacy in Asian Indian subjects with chronic HBV infection is not known. Methods: Forty-one patients with HBV-related chronic liver disease received randomly either: (a) recombinant alpha 2b interferon (n=20) 3 MIU, subcutaneously, three times a week for 4 months, or (b) no treatment (n=21). Patients were followed up for 12 months after completion of therapy. Results: In the interferon-treated group, complete response (loss of HBV-DNA and HBeAg) was significantly higher than spontaneous clearance in the control group (50% vs. 4.8% p<0.05). Seroconversion to anti-HBe was seen in 35% of the treated and 4.8% of the control group (p<0.05) at 4 months; it was noticeably higher in patients with chronic hepatitis than in those with cirrhosis. In the responders, alanine aminotransferase levels nearly normalized. One year after interferon therapy, HBeAg and HBV-DNA clearance was observed in 65% of patients, with HBsAg clearance in 15%. Reactivation was not seen in any patient. Side-effects were transient and minimal. Conclusion: Low-dose recombinant alpha interferon therapy is quite effective and safe in Asian Indians with chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B infection.