Journal
HEPATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Volume 2, Issue 2, Pages 140-146Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s12072-008-9046-5
Keywords
chronic hepatitis B; immunomodulator; interferon-alpha; pegylated interferon-alpha; thymosin alpha(1)
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The primary aim of immunomodulator therapy is to help the natural human immune system to mount a defense against hepatitis B virus. IFN-alpha has been used for the treatment of HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B for over two decades and has been shown to be effective in suppressing HBV replication and in inducing serological response leading to long-term clinical benefits. IFN-alpha has been used in patients with well-compensated cirrhosis with comparable or better response to that in non-cirrhotic patients. IFN-alpha therapy in patients with cirrhosis has a similar side effect profile as in those without cirrhosis. However, IFN-alpha is contraindicated in patients with overt or decompensated cirrhosis. Pegylated IFN-alpha has been shown to be effective in treatment of chronic hepatitis B with sustained response rate in about one-third of the treated patients. Peg IFN-alpha treatment in non-responders to lamivudine or adefovir dipivoxil showed similar response rate to that seen in naive patients. Thymosin alpha(1) is effective in treatment of HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B with a significantly increasing virological response over time after therapy.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available