Randomised controlled trial oflymphoblastoid interferon forchronic active hepatitis B

SUMMARYThirty malepatients (27homosexual) withbiopsy proven chronic active hepatitis B wererandomised toreceive lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) ornotreatment. Allpatients wereHBeAgpositive andhadcontinuing viral replication. Patients receiving treatment weregiven asingle daily intramuscular injection ofinterferon for28daysatastarting doseof2-5MU/M2 increasing toamaximumof7-5MU/m2/day. Transient sideeffects ofmalaise andinfluenza like symptomsoccurred inallpatients andresolved rapidly after treatment. Hepatitis B viral replication wassuppressed during interferon treatment inallpatients buttheeffect waslimited to theperiod oftherapy. After oneyearthere wasnoappreciable difference inviral markers between thetwogroups ofpatients andthis treatment schedule appears less effective thanthethrice weekly, three monthregimes recently reported fromother centres.