Interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis B: enhanced response in children 5 years old or younger.

Objective To test the hypothesis that there is an improved response to interferon in children with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) who are ≤5 years of age. Study design Retrospective chart review of 22 consecutive children with chronic HBV (ages 17 months to 17 years; median, 83.9 months; 14 male, 8 female) treated with interferon-α2b. Results Ten patients (48%) responded to treatment [HBeAg (−), Anti-HBe (+), HBV DNA (−), HBsAg (+) and normal alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) at 6 months after treatment], and 5 seroconverted HBsAg [above plus HBsAg negative and anti-HBs (+)]. Seven of 9 patients (78%) ≤5 years of age responded (5 cleared HBsAg). Three of 13 patients (23%) >5 years of age responded. Patient age at treatment was significantly lower in responders (63 ± 70 months) versus nonresponders (104 ± 55 months, P  = .005). AST, ALT, and HBV DNA at the start of treatment were not different between responders and nonresponders or between patients ≤5 and >5 years old. Conclusions Interferon treatment may be more effective in younger children with chronic hepatitis B.