Science / Medicine : Interferon Halts Spread of Hepatitis B, Study Says

Liver disease does not progress in patients with hepatitis B who have been treated successfully with interferon and other forms of antiviral therapy, Washington University researchers report in today’s issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Hepatitis B, which affects 1 million Americans, is a chronic, debilitating liver disorder and predisposes those affected to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Gastroenterologist Robert P. Perillo and his colleagues reported on seven patients whom they monitored for seven years after successful therapy with interferon, a naturally occurring antiviral protein that is produced with genetic engineering techniques.

Liver biopsies and blood studies showed that although some inflammation of the liver remained, the disease had not progressed and that few traces of the hepatitis virus were present.

“We believe that (the few) remaining virally infected liver cells may grow old, die and be replaced,” he said.