Alfa-Interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in kuwaiti patients

Alfa-interferon is the standard treatment of chronic hepatitis B. however, the response rate varies widely in patients from different parts of the world, reflecting differences in the natural history of the disease and the immune reactivity of the population studied. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of Alfa-interferon in the treatment of Kuwaiti patients with chronic replicate hepatitis B infection. Twenty-two adult Kuwaiti patents with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B were treated with Alfa-interferon after an observation period of six months. All patients had abnormal transminase levels and were HB[e]A[g] and HBV-DNA positive. Alfa-interferon-2b, 5 million units, was administered five days a week for 16 weeks. Patients were followed for at least 12 months after completing therapy. One of the 22 patients dropped out of the study after a single dose of interferon, because of side effects. Of the remaining 21 patients, three [14%] had a sustained loss of HBV-DNA and HB[e]A[g]. None of the patients lost HB[s]A[g]. There were no episodes of hepatic decompensation or deaths during the study. One patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma 28 months after completing treatment with interferon. Overall, Kuwaiti patients with chronic reflective hepatitis B responded poorly to interferon therapy

Hepatitis G virus. A new hepatotropic virus

A new hepatitis virus has recently been discovered and designated hepatitis G virus [HGV]. It is an RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family. Preliminary data indicate that this virus is transmitted parenterally and is common amongst intravenous drug users and patients who had received multiple blood transfusions. Coinfection with hepatitis C and B is not uncommon. HGV is associated with acute and chronic non-ABCDE hepatitis. Currently the diagnosis is based on the detection of HGV-RNA in the serum of infected patients by polymerase chain reaction. More data are needed regarding the epidemiology, clinical significance, prevention and treatment of this virus