Recombinant human interleukin 2 treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

A preliminary study of recombinant human interleukin 2 therapy was made in 8 patients with chronic hepatitis B. They received 250 to 1, 000 units per day of interleukin 2 for 28 consecutive days. Fever, fatigue, and anorexia were the major side effects, although all of them were resolved after interleukin 2 administration was discontinued. Serum deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase activity decreased in all patients during the administration of interleukin 2. There was an abrupt rise in serum alanine aminotransferase level associated with a fall in serum DNA polymerase level in 5 of the patients. One patient had sustained losses of hepatitis B e antigen and DNA polymerase. Recombinant interleukin 2 therapy may be of benefit in some hepatitis B virus carriers, although further development of this approach and additional patient follow-ups are required.