Viral nucleotide changes in asymptomatic hepatitis B carriers undergoing interferon treatment

Background: Interferon might induce mutation in regions of hepatitis B virus DNA that encode for immunologic target of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Aim: To investigate the short-term effect of steroid priming and interferon therapy on hepatitis B virus, we followed the nucleotide changes in the precore and core region of hepatitis B virus DNA in seven healthy asymptomatic carriers who underwent steroid priming followed by recombinant alpha interferon for 3 months. Methods: Hepatitis B virus DNA from serial sera of the patients were polymerase chain reaction-amplified, and the precore and core region directly sequenced and analysed. Results: Analysis revealed no serial changes in the hepatitis B virus nucleotide sequence in any of the patients. Conclusions: Steroid priming and short-term treatment with interferon in healthy asymptomatic patients does not select for hepatitis B virus with mutations in the precore and core region.