Changes in ultrastructure of hepatocytes and liver test results before, during, and after treatment with interferon-? in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic active hepatitis

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Abstract
We studied the histological and ultrastructural changes in the liver and alterations in the liver test results before, during, and after treatment with human interferon-β from five patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis. A daily dose of 3×106 to 6×106 units of interferon-β was given intravenously for four weeks. The total index of periportal and portal inflammation, intralobular degeneration, and focal necrosis before treatment was decreased significantly six months after treatment (PPPP<0.05) of treatment, respectively. These results suggest that interferon-β injures endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen areas and damages the cholinesterase activity in the early stage of treatment and protein synthesis in patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis.