Antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection: Improvement in liver disease with interferon and adenine arabinoside

Abstract

Twelve of 32 patients lost HBeAg and DNA polymerase from their serum after completing antiviral therapy with interferon and/or adenine arabinoside. Three lost serum HBsAg as well. Loss of corresponding viral markers from hepatic tissue was also seen. There was improvement in symptoms, hepatic tests, and histologic findings in the 12 patients whose viral markers disappeared when compared to the 20 whose viral markers persisted despite treatment. These findings provide support for the use of antiviral agents in hepatitis B positive chronic liver disease.