INTERFERON
Interferon is a natural product your blood cells produce to defend against viruses. There are three types--alpha, beta and gamma, all of which are proteins. Interferons stimulate the body's immune system to fight viral infections and affect the ability of viruses to divide in liver cells. Patients with chronic HBV or HCV infections also appear to be unable to produce normal amounts of interferon.
Interferon alpha-2b is the only commercial form approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV). Interferon alpha-2a is approved for the treatment of HCV only. Other forms of alpha interferon (lymphoblastoid-alpha N1 and consensus interferon) have also been evaluated but are not currently available for treatment.
This treatment has only been effective in some patients. Believe it or not, there are varying degrees of infection which dictate who is eligible for interferon therapy. Treatable patients should have infection documented for at least six months, with elevated liver enzymes (AST or SGOT, and ALT or SGPT tests). Liver enzymes are proteins found in the blood that come from damaged liver cells. Patients with normal liver enzymes are less likely to respond to therapy.
Hepatitis B: Patients with low hepatitis B virus DNA levels and elevated liver enzymes are more likely to benefit than those with high HBV DNA levels. A biopsy, where a needle is inserted into the liver to obtain a small sample of tissue, is helpful in determining the degree of liver damage prior to treatment.
What is the doses for Hepatitis B patents? Approved treatment for HBV is five million units daily or ten million units three times weekly for four months. Treatment may be modified for significant side effects, such as flu like symptoms. However, lower doses may result in lower rates of response. Interferon treatment is administered by injection.
Hepatitis C: Patients with elevated liver enzymes for six or more months and who have a detectable antibody (ELISA test) to HCV (anti-HCV) are eligible for therapy. Patients who have a risk factor for HCV (blood transfusion, needle-stick exposure or illegal intravenous drug use) usually do not need to have the HCV result confirmed by additional testing. However, patients without such a risk factor should have a second test: either the RIBA test, to confirm the presence of the antibody, or the PCR test, which detects the presence of the virus. Liver biopsy is helpful in the diagnosis of viral hepatitis, assessing liver damage prior to treatment.
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