Serum zinc as a factor predicting response to interferon-α2b therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B
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Date
2002
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Abstract
Although it has been unclear why more than 50% of children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection do not respond to interferon therapy, in some instances resistance to interferon probably is caused by an inability to stimulate appropriately cellular immune responses to hepatitis B virus. It is known that immune integrity is tightly linked to zinc status. We examined the relationship between serum zinc levels and response to interferon (INF)-α therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B. Twenty-five children with chronic hepatitis B infection were injected with 5 × 106 units/m2 recombinant IFN-α 2b subcutaneously three times weekly for 9 mo. Children were followed for at least 9 mo after the end of therapy. Sustained response was obtained in eight (32%) patients. Although initial serum zinc and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly higher; initial hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-DNA values, hepatic activity index, periportal necrosis, and fibrosis scores were significantly lower in sustained responders than in nonresponders. Mean baseline serum zinc, alanine aminotransferase and HBV-DNA values, histologic activity index, periportal necrosis, and fibrosis scores were predictive of response to IFN-α 2b therapy. These findings suggest that serum zinc levels might be used as a factor predicting response to interferon-α 2b therapy, and so may help in identifying those children with a better chance of response.
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Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hepatitis B, Chronic , Humans , Interferon Alfa-2b , Liver Cirrhosis , Male , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Zinc , DNA viruses , Hepatitis B virus , alanine aminotransferase , alpha2b interferon , zinc , adolescent , alanine aminotransferase blood level , antibiotic resistance , article , cellular immunity , child , clinical article , controlled study , DNA virus , female , follow up , hepatitis B , Hepatitis B virus , human , human tissue , liver fibrosis , liver function , liver histology , liver necrosis , male , prediction , scoring system , treatment outcome , zinc blood level