Author/Authors :
Ataseven, Hilmi Cumhuriyet University - School of Medicine - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Yüksel, İlhami Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Teaching and Research Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , İbiş, Mehmet Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Ödemiş, Bülent Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Arhan, Mehmet , Çiçek, Bahattin Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Oğuz, Dilek Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Kılıç, Mesut Zeki Yalın Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Üsküdar, Oğuz Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Teaching and Research Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Uçar, Engin Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey , Altıparmak, Emin Turkey Yüksek İhtisas Hospital - Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey
Abstract :
Aim. To present follow-up results of our chronic hepatitis patients infected with HDV treated with subcutaneous interferon (IFN). Method. A total of 24 patients, 21 males and 3 females with HBsAg (+), AntiHBc IgM (-), antibody against hepatitis D virus (anti HDV) and/or HDV RNA (+) and with above normal values for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), who had no contraindications for treatment and had suitable histological activity index (HAI) and fibrosis scores in their liver biopsies were enrolled. Patients treated with three doses of 9-10 MU subcutaneous IFN per week. Serum aminotransferases, HBsAg, antibody against HbsAg (anti HBs), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibody against HBeAg (anti HBe), HBV DNA, anti HDV and/or HDV RNA levels were determined before, during and after treatment. Results. Nine patients (37.5%) stopped treatment in an early phase. In 3 patients (12.5%), treatment was discontinued due to severe side effects. In the post-treatment period, HBV DNA was negative in all patients. In 4 patients who completed 12-month treatment (33.3%), ALT levels decreased to normal values in the 3rd month and this level was sustained during follow-up of 24 months; in one patient, ALT levels mildly increased in the 6th and 12th months and decrease to normal values were observed in the following visits. Conclusions. High dose interferon, a proinflammatory cytokine with antiviral efficacy and biological activity spectrum, seems as an effective agent in treatment of chronic hepatitis D. In addition, use of pegylated IFNs with higher and sustained serum levels may be more promising as compared to classical IFN treatment.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Hepatitis delta virus , chronic active hepatitis , interferon alpha , HBsAG , antiHBs
