[The dynamic production of interferons, interleukins and arachidonic acid metabolites by the blood cells of children with glomerulonephritis associated with HB virus infection while treated with reaferon]. / Dinamika produktsii interferonov, interleikinov i metabolitov arakhidonovoi kisloty kletkami krovi u detei s glomerulonefritom, assotsiirovannym s HB-virusnoi infektsiei, na fone lecheniia reaferonom.

The efficacy of therapy with reaferon (recombinant alpha 2-interferon) was studied in children with glomerulonephritis (GN) associated with hepatitis B virus infection as well as its effect on the interferon status (IFN), production of interleukins (IL) 1 and 2 and synthesis of active arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites by the blood cells in the course of treatment. The IFN status, IL-1, IL-2 production, and synthesis of AA active metabolites (LTB 4- and 5-HETE) by the blood cells, as well as markers of HBV-infection (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc total and anti-HBc of the IgM class) were examined over time in 60 GN patients treated with reaferon alone and administered immunosuppression therapy (IST), with antioxidants, or IST alone. The employment of reaferon for treatment of GN patients was shown to increase the efficacy of GN treatment, especially in combination with immunosuppressive drugs, to prevent reactivation of hepatitis B virus when prednisolone and/or cytostatic drugs were used, and to reduce hepatitis activity. It way be assumed that the above effects were mainly due to the action of reaferon and antioxidants on the improvement of the condition of immunocompetent cells, primarily monocyte-macrophage system and leukocytes. During reaferon therapy, normalization of alpha-IFN and IL-1 production by the blood cells and inhibition of production of AA active metabolites were observed.

[Effectiveness of using recombinant interferon alfa2 (reaferon) combined with antioxidants in children with acute hepatitis B]. / Effektivnost' primeneniia rekombinantnogo alfa2 interferona (reaferona) v komplekse s antioksidantami pri ostrom virusnom gepatite B u detei.

The authors describe the results of the first experience gained with the use of recombinant alpha 2-interferon in children with acute viral hepatitis B. The drug was administered rectally in combination with antioxidants (tocopherol). The study was carried out by the double blind method with randomization and two control groups (given tocopherol alone or placebo alone). 73 children with acute viral hepatitis B were examined. The therapeutic combination reaferon plus tocopherol was established to favour more rapid elimination of dyspeptic and abdominal phenomena, to shorten the time of the liver and spleen size increase, duration of hyperfermentemia, to provide for an accelerated reduction of HBsAg titers, elimination of HBeAg and seroconversion, to stimulate alpha-interferon production by leukocytes, and to activate the system of mononuclear phagocytes.

[Presence of markers of hepatitis B in patients with nephrotic syndrome]. / Chastota markerov HB-virusnoi infektsii u bol'nykh s nefroticheskim sindromom.

The purpose of the present work was to study the rate of HB viral infection from the standpoint of its pathogenetic importance in children with the nephrotic syndrome (NS). As many as 71 children aged 2 to 15 years with the NS were examined. 23 children with hematuric glomerulonephritic (GN) served as control. HB viral infection markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, total anti-HBc and IgM anti-HBc) were detected in the blood serum by means of IEA in all the patients. The examinations made it possible to reveal material differences in the distribution of various combinations of VHB markers in children with the NS and hematuric GN. The combination of HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc turned out most characteristic for the NS, pointing to active NB viral infection. In patients with mixed GN, that combination was detectable twice as often. The data obtained attest te a high rate of the association of HB viral infection with GN, particularly with that running its course with the NS. In this case, the rate mentioned was significantly higher than in the population. A definite relationship between the activity of HB viral infection and the gravity of the NS suggests that VHB is implicated in the pathogenesis of GN. This suggestion may be indirectly supported by a far higher rate of HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc demonstration in patients suffering from membranoproliferative GN.