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document
Treatment of hepatitis B virus infection with interferon . Factors predicting response to interferon . Several randomised controlled trials have been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of alpha-interferon in the therapy of chronic hepatitis B . In patients with HBe antigen-positive disease acquired in adult life the response rates vary from 25-50 % . In those infected at birth , response rates are lower . Twenty-one pretreatment variables were assessed for their significance in response prediction using data from 114 patients given alpha-interferon for chronic hepatitis B virus infection . In those patients who had received a minimum of 90 million units per m2 total dose over 12 weeks , a negative anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibody status ( p less than 0.001 ) , chronic active hepatitis on liver biopsy ( p less than 0.005 ) , high AST level ( p less than 0.001 ) , low hepatitis B virus DNA level ( p less than 0.001 ) and a history of acute hepatitis ( p less than 0.005 ) were all associated with an increased likelihood of response on univariate analysis . On stepwise logistic regression analysis , hepatitis B virus DNA , AST and a history of acute hepatitis predicted response independently ( p less than 0.05 ) . The most reliable combination of predictive factors was a negative anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibody status , with either a positive history of acute icteric hepatitis and AST greater than 45 IU per liter or no history of acute icteric hepatitis and AST greater than 85 IU per liter , which predicted response in 77 % with a specificity of 79 % ( p less than 0.001 ) . The loss of HBsAg in addition to HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA was more likely to occur in patients with chronic infection of less than 2 years duration ( p less than 0.001 ) .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon
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Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon
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Intervention_Pharmacological
alpha-interferon
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Intervention_Pharmacological
alpha-interferon
41164
Outcome_Physical
response
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Outcome_Physical
anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibody status
41166
Outcome_Physical
chronic active hepatitis on liver biopsy
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Outcome_Physical
AST level
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Outcome_Physical
hepatitis B virus DNA level
41169
Outcome_Physical
acute hepatitis
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Outcome_Physical
anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibody status
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Outcome_Physical
acute icteric hepatitis
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Outcome_Physical
HBsAg
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Outcome_Physical
HBeAg
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Outcome_Physical
hepatitis B virus DNA