Effect ofrecombinant interleukin 2onhepatitis Be antigen positive chronic hepatitis

SUMMARY Eleven patients withhepatitis B(HB)virus related chronic hepatitis weretreated with recombinant interleukin 2(rIL2).Twohundred andfifty to1000units were given intravenously oncedaily forsevento28days. Infive patients serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity rose transiently. Sixpatients showed a decrease inHBV DNA polymerase. Onepatient lostHBs, eantigens (Ags) andgained anti-HBs, eantibodies, while one lost HBsAgandanother HBe Ag. 2'-5'oligoadenylate synthetase activity inmononuclear cells intheperipheral blooddidnotchange during treatment. ThenumberofCD4positive (helper/inducer) cells andnatural killer cell activity increased after therapy (p<0-05, p<0.01). Theseresults suggest thatrIL2actsas an immunomodulatory agentenhancing hostimmuneactivity andmay bebeneficial inpatients withchronic HB virus infection.