Effects of antiviral agents on chronic hepatitis B

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Abstract
Two hundred fifteen courses of antiviral treatment including interferon with or without steroid withdrawal, adenine arabinoside with steroid withdrawal, and steroid withdrawal alone were given to 175 patients with HBe-antigen positive chronic hepatitis B. The effectiveness was judged on loss of HBe antigen and formation of anti-HBe, and was compared with 80 controls. According to cumulative HBe seronegative and seroconversion rates as analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, interferon with steroid withdrawal increased both the cumulative HBe seronegative and seroconversion rates significantly (P< 0.0001). Adenine arabinoside with steroid withdrawal and interferon alone increased the cumulative HBe seronegative rate only, (PeAg-positive period and the duration until anti-HBe becomes reactive significantly (P eAg positive interval only (PeAg-positive interval significantly (PPeAg 7.3 times more than control. The effectiveness of antiviral treatment on chronic, hepatitis B, especially the priority of interferon with steroid withdrawal, was thought to be established through this study.