Hepatic expression of viral antigens, hepatocytic proliferative activity and histologic changes in liver biopsies of children with chronic hepatitis B after interferon-alpha therapy.
Liver
; 19(5): 369-74, 1999 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10533793
ABSTRACT
AIMS/BACKGROUND:
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) treatment on necro-inflammatory changes, viral antigen expression and hepatocytic proliferation rate assessed by Ki-67 protein in liver biopsies of children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.METHODS:
The study included 18 children at prepubertal age. Histologic changes were assessed using a modified scoring system for grading of histological activity index and staging of fibrosis. The hepatocytic expression of Ki-67 and HBV antigens including HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV core antigen (HBcAg) were evaluated using a semi-quantitative immunohistochemical scoring system.RESULTS:
We found a significant decrease in the scores of intralobular confluent and spotty necrosis, periportal piecemeal necrosis, and in Ki-67 immunopositivity after treatment. Serologic response with clearance of HBV e antigen in 9 patients (50%) was associated with this improvement. The extent of fibrosis and scoring of portal inflammation, however, did not show any difference. HBcAg expression showed a significant decrease after treatment, whereas HBsAg expression either increased or remained unchanged.CONCLUSION:
We conclude that IFNalpha treatment might provide an improvement in hepatic histology with a reduction in hepatocytic injury. It might also provide a serologic response associated with a decrease in hepatocytic HBV replication.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
Hepatitis B virus
/
Interferon-alpha
/
Hepatitis B, Chronic
/
Hepatitis B Core Antigens
/
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
/
Liver
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Liver
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Turkey